Session 2a – Hiring, Firing, and Board Meltdowns (roundtable)
I moved to the outside of the auditorium for this session. For one, this will allow me to plug my MacBook when I run the battery down. But it also means that I can see the rest of the auditorium so that I can observe the reactions of the people in attendance.
Hiring
Hybels introduces an excellent mock up video of bad hiring practice followed by a pre-recorded roundtable discussion.
Discussion:
When you’re desperate, you’ll idealize whoever is available. (Cloud says “When you haven’t been on a date for 15 years, anybody looks good.” Laughter follows)
Ask questions that are open-ended and not yes/no then ask questions about people’s answers and they will reveal a lot.
If you have a clear culture, people that fit will be attracted; people that won’t fit will be repulsed. When you don’t have a culture it is extremely difficult to hire anyone.
Board Meltdowns
Another well-done video that just bleeds tension. Total board meltdown… painful to watch. Especially funny is the guy who says almost nothing but chimes in with a flighty cliché.
One board member has a meltdown and storms out… after he’s gone, the chairman says “I’m going to need that in writing.”
Discussion:
- At the end of every meeting, take 10 minutes and ask, “How did we do?”
- Decide ahead of time how the team will function.
- Enforce term limits so that new life can get in, and disease can get out
- Hybels – board member exhaustion
- 4-year terms
- Must step off at least one year
Hybels – the Bible (esp. NT) teaches that a plurality of people will lead an organization better than one person in control
Firing
In every vid the Lead Pastor is under the thumb of the Board Chair. This one is no different.
Discussion:
Firing should never happen blind-sided… talking about warnings written and verbal…. Ah, reminds me of my days at the ole factory.
I don’t think Cloud is crazy about Patrick Lencioni – he looks like he wants to punch him in the face when he talks. When Cloud speaks, Lenconi has this wide-eyed “I’m pretending to listen to you” look on his face. Hilarious.
“The kindest form of management is the truth.” Jack Welch
Employee grading is good as long as you’re willing to have the brutal, honest conversations. Otherwise everyone eventually ends up at the top of the scale.
How does a church reduce staff when necessary? Cloud “Clarity and care need to work together.” Reduce uncertainty; give as much clarity as possible.
