Three weeks already? Has it really been that long? It’s been crazy busy. Not really the work… but learning how to work in a new environment. Nearly everything is new and what isn’t new is done differently. Procedures I learned from one place have really messed me up on this end of things (I pressed 4 to delete a voicemail… should have pressed 2).
Things are wonderful, don’t get me wrong… but rather than talk about the awesome stuff, I’d like to hash out a few things I’ve already learned about starting a new position (aka, things I messed up).
1. Don’t Get Friendly Too Quickly
Wherever you go, there will be people in each church who are similar. Just because knew one of them very well in your old church doesn’t mean that relationship transfers to the new person. One week is way too soon to be making ‘Yo Mama’ jokes.
2. Don’t Snap Judge Anything
When you move positions, you carry along your experiences. Most of those will come in very handy and help you bypass a whole lot of mess. On the other hand, some of it will cause you to assume certain things that were true in your old place to hold true in the new. This is not necessarily the case. Kid flag teams are not always the cheese.
3. Don’t Talk Non-Stop About Your Old Church
Nobody cares what they did there… how hot or cold it was… how good or bad it was. You may have been there for a decade… but God has moved you forward and upward. It’s time to leave those things behind you and press on to the goal that God has for you. That being said however, at my old church… we did a lot of cool stuff.
4. Watch Those First Impressions
The first time people see you they will make a snapshot of you for their future reference. They will choose how they speak to you and what they say based on that snapshot. Make sure you present your true self even if you’re not at all impressed with it. You cannot maintain an image for any long period of time anyway. If you don’t speak in a southern accent normally, it’s not a good idea to adopt one just because you moved South.
I’m all about getting any advice from any of you readers who have made a move such as mine. Any tips you would add? What mistakes have you made? What did you learn? Drop them in the comments.
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
My first few months on the job (3 years ago), I just sat quietly and more quietly. I did my work, but I only talked in group meetings with peers when I was called on. I lived the motto, “Better to say nothing and be thought a fool, than to speak up and remove all doubt.”
After a few months, the Lord started opening up doors of opportunity to be a part of things and the ball’s been rolling ever since. and I’ve seen way to many newbies come in with their blowtorches and ruin any chance of having influence…
That is excellent advice! I’ve adopted the following, “I’ll say nothing for the first year.” Even a good idea can make you look like a moron if it’s been tried or you don’t understand all of the in’s and out’s of the church’s culture. Good stuff!
I think that applies to any job situation. About six months ago I moved from Billings, MT to Helena, MT, from one framing crew to a new construction company. I expected it to be similar or the same to what I had in Billings, however, it was opposite. Things I suggested that I thought would increase productivity got shut down. I am now the Kids Director at Narrate Church 3/4 time and am done with construction.