Three Itsy Bitsy Strategic Tweaks with Exponential Impact
Ever noticed that sometimes the tiniest changes can have the largest impact? For example, an oil tanker has a massive rudder designed to turn the ship. It’s huge and would take enormous power to change directions…if not for a much smaller part called a trim tab. The trim tab is essentially a small flap that when it’s turned forces the much larger rudder to turn. The impact of the trim tab is exponential because it moves the much larger rudder (which causes the ship to turn).
Did you know there are a few strategic tweaks that you can make that will have an exponential impact on your congregation? Here are three strategic tweaks that can have exponential impact on your small group ministry:
First, instead of relying on an announcement, take advantage of the clout of the most influential person in the church. Trust me, if your pastor would take on the role of chief recruiter you’d have no trouble enlisting the number of hosts needed to connect your congregation. There is an opportunity every week to strike while you’ve got everyone’s attention. It’s during the message! If your pastor would simply integrate the host ask into the weekend message, the impact would be huge.
I’ve found that in most cases this one tweak results in a 50 to 100% increase in the number of people who say “Yes!” That’s exponential. Need more? Read How to Make the HOST Ask (the 2012 version).
Second, instead of offering a buffet with lots of choices, focus everyone’s attention on the main course you want them to have. Trust me, this is a huge point disguised in a teeny tiny detail. And don’t miss this…you don’t have to trim down the menu right away to take advantage of this idea. Instead, simply intentionally choosing what gets promoted and when it gets promoted has a big and immediate impact. For example, focusing your promotion solely on recruiting hosts (as opposed to talking up three or four options) will have an exponential impact on the number of hosts you’re able to recruit. When it comes time to challenge everyone to be part of a group that’s using the study that goes along with your campaign, focus solely on joining a group (as opposed to offering several competing programs as options).
You might find this hard to believe, but this simple change can also result in a big, big difference in response. What if you could double the number of sign-ups for groups? Need more? Read A Plated Meal Leads to a Church OF Groups
Third, instead of adding members to existing groups, focus on launching new groups. It’s a little thing, but when you turn your attention to launching new groups (whether you use a small group connection or recruit HOSTs to launch a church-wide campaign) you will see the immediate payoff. Think about it like Lego blocks. Every additional block offers an average of 10 new connecting spots. Want to connect more people? Add more blocks…errr, groups!
Can you see it? By making the simple change of focusing on starting new groups (as opposed to filling and refilling existing groups) you will see an exponential difference in the number of people you can connect! Need more? Read Top 5 Advantages of New Groups
These are just three of the easiest tweaks you can make. I help churches make these moves all the time. Need help? Find out more right here.
We are anxious to include these tweaks this fall as we kick-off our adult small-group sermon series. However, as with other churches, fall is the kick-off for children and student ministries. And all of our ministries are centered around small groups, so they too are looking for leaders/hosts to step up. So, how do you harness the power of the pastor in recruiting hosts/leaders in each of these ministries without it being a ‘buffet’?
Since the buffet is primarily about consuming (as opposed to serving), what you’re asking is workable…but still will lessen the response. You no doubt have an additional hoop or two that children’s or student volunteers have to jump through (i.e., background checks, etc.). I’ve not discovered a magic bullet for this question. Best I’ve found is to encourage recruiting for kids and teens (and everything else) in the late spring or early summer. This allows for training (always important) and at the same time, leaves August for host recruitment.