dgbmcc – Page 2 – IT's For Ministry – IT, Leadership and Change in Ministry

Brainstorming

Kipling Questions

June 3, 2020June 3, 2020
by dgbmcc

I keep six honest serving men,

they taught me all I knew.

Their names are What and Why and When

and How and Where and Who

from The Elephant’s Child, Rudyard Kipling

Six Questions to ask about anything and everything?

Use them to brainstorm on your own or with a group

What? is it, could happen, would happen if…
Why? Why, Why is, does it have to be…
When? is the right time, do we start…
How? can we do it, will it be achieved…
Where? should this happen, is best, are the target audience…
Who? is involved, are we involving, excluding…

Further reading:

https://www.lucidmeetings.com/glossary/six-serving-men

Brainstorming

Gnim rots niarb

June 3, 2020June 4, 2020
by dgbmcc

It’s a silent G – pronounced ‘nim rots ny-arb’ No it’s not Gaelic! It’s Brainstorming reversed!

Instead of brainstorming around what you want to achieve… consider what you would do to ensure failure!

It really works well – people will talk much more freely because it’s fun and light hearted… it’s actually really creative and generative.

eg: how to ensure poor engagement with Christmas services.

Don’t advertise, tell everyone the church is closed, hide the minister’s iPad, sing unfamiliar carols, no decorations in Church… you get the idea

And then when you flip the ‘how not to’ ideas you will have loads of really helpful insights…

Next Brainstorm – whether in a group or on your own – do it in reverse…. Gnim rots niarb!

Bonus tip: it’s always good to have brainstormers do some storming on their own first so they ‘hear their own ideas’ before being drowned out by louder voices!

Audio

Royalty Free Music on Apple Music

June 2, 2020
by dgbmcc

If you have Apple Music – do a search on ‘Royalty Free’ and you’ll find some background music for your videos…

Change

Don’t Procrastinate – Schedule!

June 2, 2020June 2, 2020
by dgbmcc

Putting off until tomorrow is procrastination.

Putting off until a week on Thursday is strategic planning.

also check out: itsforministry.org/101-things-to-do

Feedback

Giving Great Feedback

June 2, 2020
by dgbmcc

Ted Talk TED Talk: The secret to giving great Feedback

Change

Today 2nd June 2020 is World Mind Map Day! I’ve been an avid mind-mapper since the mid 1980s. During University studies which weren’t going too well, discovering mind-mapping transformed me from being on the brink of being ‘chucked out of Uni’ to turning in a piece of work to a lecturer who always said he marked out of 75% – and getting a 76%! It was a turning point in life! I completed the degree, and was able to help some other students to realise their greater potential too.

35 years on, I still mind map everything. Sermons, agendas, reports, shopping lists, brainstorms, decision making and so much more. It just works for me, it’s a brilliant thinking tool, mirroring the way the brain naturally works – making connections, linking ideas and keeping the big picture overview literally in mind.

www.tonybuzan.com is the go to place for all things mind mapping!

TED Talk: Hazel Wagner, explains mind mapping.

Change

Kandinsky Effect!

June 1, 2020June 2, 2020
by dgbmcc

Wassily Kandinsky’s best known painting is probably Color Study: Squares with concentric circles. Behind this superficially simple image ‘that any kid could paint’ lies years of experience, understanding and creativity.

Sometimes we have to allow our training and experience to find expression in simpler ways… engaging memorable ways.

Mark Twain is attributed with the thought, “my spontaneity has taken me years to prepare”

Often ministry appears to be in the simplest and ordinary things, shaped, influenced and informed by years of ongoing honing of our craft.

Change

IT’s for Ministry

June 1, 2020June 3, 2020
by dgbmcc

www.itsforministry.org began life back in 2001 when internet hosting was very much a geeky thing in its infancy! Over the years it had hosted various bits and pieces and been a place to share ideas about Technology, Leadership and Change in a ministry context. Recently in Lockdown it became a useful place to share ideas as I and colleagues navigated the learning curve of moving the Church more online.

Part of that learning curve caused me to experiment, try various settings… and Oh dear… I broke the site… and didn’t have a back up.

Important tech tip number 1! Back up your work regularly!

Happy to report that www.itsforministry.org is up and running again and is sharing links, hints and tips on IT, tech, leadership and change in a ministry context…

If you are in a different field you may find many of the ideas and tips transfer – as I have gleaned much from the world of business, industry and other areas of life…

Change

Brilliant Life

June 1, 2020June 2, 2020
by dgbmcc

Many many years ago, in Chicago Airport I think it was, I picked up a book that caught my eye. “How to be brilliant” by Michael Heppell. It was a brilliant read! I’ve read all the books he has published since, and even get a wee mention in the acknowledgements in “How to save an hour every day”! And about 15 years ago I attended one of his “Be Brilliant” day seminar events. His website https://www.michaelheppell.com is worth a look – and has lots of helpful pointers to a brilliant balanced life. I’m not sure I’ve got there yet – but keep moving forward!

Michael’s currently doing “How to be Brilliant” online on FaceBook. It started pre-Covid19 – Brilliant timing! Part of my new routine includes Michael’s “Magic Monday”. Today he put out a #300 challenge… which I rise to and will write at least 300 words for this site each day this week, and will promote the site aiming at 300 hits this week. Perhaps you would appreciate joining Michael’s How to be brilliant FaceBook Group – consider yourself invited!

Be brilliant… be blessed… and be a blessing…

Donald

Change

Healthy Church Leadership

June 1, 2020June 1, 2020
by dgbmcc

in Uncharted Territory with Tod Bolsinger

Tod Bolsinger, author of Canoeing the Mountains: Christian Leadership in uncharted territory speaks about Church moving forward through Covid19.

Author: dgbmcc

Kipling Questions

Gnim rots niarb

Royalty Free Music on Apple Music

Don’t Procrastinate – Schedule!

Giving Great Feedback

Mind Map Everything!

Kandinsky Effect!

IT’s for Ministry

Brilliant Life

Healthy Church Leadership