I write this on Doomsday! The 6th day of the 6th month! Sounds ominous! Actually quite fun! Did you know that the 4th day of the 4th month, the 6th day of the 6th month, the 8th day of the 8th month, the 10th day of the 10th month, and the 12th day of the 12th month always fall on the same day of the week? In 2020 these dates…
Read MoreOnLine Reports & Papers
A wee video from a few years ago with Bryan Kerr and Donald McCorkindale in the context of the Church of Scotland General Assembly – about going paperless and making the most of electronic versions rather than printing off oddles of paper! Yes you can scribble notes in the margins, stick in a post-it note! Yes, you can flick between several documents. Take time to become familiar with reading and…
Read MoreThe most important meeting of the day!
All Zoomed out! Lots of online meetings on various platforms filling our days. But the most important meeting is a low tech offline one! Are you making time for a meeting with yourself? Have you put it in your calendar and blocked off time to review, plan and priorise your day? Below is my ‘Agenda’ for Morning and Evening meeting with self – and God. I’m a big fan of…
Read MoreCo-create! Get everyone on board!
“We need a sense of ownership.” How often do we hear that – or say that. BUT, We tend to own things that other people create! Authorship is better – get everyone involved – all the stakeholders in from the beginning – have everyone involved in co-creating the project, plan whatever. And when we set up an event, have it all planned and then invite neighbouring congregations and denominations don’t…
Read MoreKipling Questions
I keep six honest serving men,they taught me all I knew.Their names are What and Why and Whenand How and Where and Whofrom 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…
Read MoreGnim rots niarb
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…
Read MoreDon’t Procrastinate – Schedule!
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
Read MoreGiving Great Feedback
Ted Talk TED Talk: The secret to giving great Feedback
Read MoreMind Map Everything!
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!…
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