the Monday Morning Debrief: Don’t be like Google+
Last week, CNNMoney posted an article about an ex-Google employee, now employed by Microsoft, who says that Google+ has ruined the company.
Here’s why and how it applies to Ministry:
In the article, the former Google employee said, “Google once gave its engineers the time and resources to be creative. That experimental approach yielded several home-run hits like Chrome and Gmail.” The article goes on to say that “several high-level employees have left after complaining that the ‘start-up spirit’ of Google has been replaced by a more mature but staid culture focused on the bottom line.”
Google’s freedom and ability to create resulted in huge innovations and is exactly why they became dominate in so many areas. Personally, I love starting and creating new things in ministry and I try my hardest to encourage that freedom to create. But, with Google+, it seems like Google became an obsession to compete with Facebook and become a huge player in the social media craze. I feel like the DirecTV commercial by saying this, but “Don’t be like Google+”. Don’t let you ministry turn into how Google has approached Google+.
As ministry grows and “matures”, we have to continue to give students and leaders the ability to create and do. That is what got your ministry growing in the first place. But as ministry grows, other “priorities” and “bottom lines” become more important. You have to learn the balance between getting achieving new goals with creating a freedom to do. When that balance isn’t there, I have seen it happen before in my own ministry that as we got bigger, we turned away from some of the things that got us to where we were. Students and leaders notice and frustation sets in causing some tension.
So don’t forget all the things you did that got you were you are currently. If you’re not satisfied with where you are, Great! Never be because there is always lots of work God has in store for you. But as you grow and mature as a ministry, never forget what got you there. Keep seeking the Lord for guidance so that you don’t sacrifice what made your ministry unique.
Thoughts? Comments? Questions? Experiences? Post a comment and let the discussion begin so that we can all benefit from it.
