If you've been in one of my workshops, you've heard me say this... and say this.
Bust up your party!
Here's the scenario fraught with tension: You and your greeter buds are near an entry, intending to greet guests as they enter your building or room. It's been at least seven days since you've all seen each other, maybe longer since you've volunteered together. You're having a great time laughing it up, swapping stories, catching up on life. This is community at its finest (or depending on your church culture and language: fellowship)!
And guests are just streaming by - "ungreeted."
Arggggh.
Here's the tension. We want community and relationship among our team members. However, we also want our guests to be warmly greeted. Get this: these two things must be rank-ordered and given some context. They cannot happen simultaneously at the level we hope for. We have to decide. Will we greet our guests? Or will we engage each other in community?
Here's where we've settled at Granger. Have fun when you serve. Do so with people you enjoy. But do it shoulder to shoulder. Never block the guest. Keep you stance open so your face and focus is on the guest. Go ahead, chat while you're standing there. But, when a guest comes by, shut up. Greet the guest! If you see a guest who needs engagement, leave your friends - cold - and attend to the needs or interest of the guest. They're our priority.
If your team conversation is critical, urgent...must happen right now, then leave the floor. If it's that immediate and crucial, excuse yourselves, find replacements and go elsewhere to talk. Or agree to talk later. You matter. Your teammates matter.
Just don't pretend you can focus fully on each other and your guests at the same time. You can't. You won't.
