Subscribe to the NetworkMinistry Lessons from Retail
I really liked Josh Treece’s blog post today about lessons that the church can learn from retail. Here’s a clip of it and if you’re looking for a former Saddleback intern that is looking for a youth pastor position, check him out:
1) Presentation is important… We spend a ton of time on presentation at the store. Several times a day, we walk the aisles making sure that there are no holes on the shelves, products are where they should be, and that things are facing forward. Things are dusted all the time. Floors are polished. Seasonal decorations are hung. All of these things are done with the customer in mind. If perception is reality, then we want to be perceived as a clean, organized store. I’m not sure if we think about presentation enough in ministry. What’s the first thing a guest sees (and therefore thinks) when they walk into our space? What kind of environments are we creating and how do they affect our message? When we hand over our promo for camp to a parent, what impression does it give them? We need to start recognizing how much presentation can add to our credibility.
2) But it’s not as important as great customer service… It doesn’t matter how good the store looks, without paying special attention to the customers, the store can never be successful. Our store policy is that we’re always asking customers “Can I help you find something?” Providing great customer service is the first thing on everyone’s job description. All of us in professional ministry have struggled with balancing being task driven vs. relationship driven. While presentation is important (we could have the best looking ministry around, with the biggest programs, sweetest print work, and most awesome videos) unless we’re working hard to encourage growing relationships (with God and others), we’re never going to have a successful ministry. Life change happens within the context of relationships.
JG
