Strategy
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5 Ways to Fail as a Ministry Web Team

Posted by John Saddington on Jan 19, 2010

I’ve gotten a lot of things wrong in my career. I’ve done a lot of boneheaded things. I’ve made some terrible decisions and I’ve offended a lot of people.

Thankfully, I’ve received more grace than I deserve and I’ve had the opportunity to turn them into “learning” experiences (but the scars remain!).

So, speaking from experience, here are 5 ways you can completely suck as a ministry web team (or individual within your team):

1. Try to Do Everything

This one’s easy to fail at. Simply assume that you’re the bomb and do everything, even if you’re in a team environment. Arrogance and pride will slay you!

Being a jack of all trades doesn’t really work and even if you’re your web team is 1 person there are opportunities to delegate and trust others with important tasks. Being a web guru means nothing if people hate you.

2. Say ‘Yes’ All the Time

If every time a new idea pops up or a new project comes along or your Senior Pastor thinks something “big” and “visionary” you say yes, then you instantly fail as a ministry web team.

You are the authority and the expert. Stand tall and learn to say no. Not every project is a good project right now; perhaps in the future.

But, don’t be a jerk about it.

3. Process? What’s That?

Have a project management system. Learn to manage and organize. Have a “process” for goodness sake so that you don’t drive yourself (and the rest of your ministry) insane.

We’re using Basecamp where I work and I also use it for personal projects. Regardless, have some type of structure or you’ll be building a house on sand.

4. Forget that Ministry is About Relationships

Since we’re the tech geeks it’s pretty natural for us to be socially-inept (or at least me). Don’t discount relationships! I’d much prefer to lose a “technological” discussion than to burn a bridge relationally. I honestly wish someone had told me that a years ago.

Ministry and the web is much more “touch and feel” then “ones and zeros.” Get with it!

5. Be Clueless About the Rest of the Organization

One of the things that I love about where I work is that we gather weekly to discuss and share with the rest of the ministry the things that God is doing. I think a web team that is silo’d or completely cut off and without a clue about the rest of the ministry is a deadman walking.

Make time to know intimately how the rest of the ministry is doing; you’ll end up serving them better as a result.

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John Saddington

John is the Chief Editor @ The 8BIT Network and Senior Blog Junkie here at ChurchCrunch.He enjoys Triple-Tall Americanos, developing Wordpress Themes, and a few other Random Things.

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17 Responses to “5 Ways to Fail as a Ministry Web Team”

  1. Cleve Persinger
    Tuesday, January 19, 2010 at 10:01 am

    Good words of wisdom that we can benefit from.

    Reply
    • human3rror
      Wednesday, January 20, 2010 at 1:54 am

      thanks dude. how are things.

      Reply
  2. Brian
    Tuesday, January 19, 2010 at 3:09 pm

    Great post! As a part of a pretty small team (there's just three of us that handle all the video, print, web and graphics), it's nice to be reminded that although we do a lot of things right, there's always some room for improvment.

    Reply
  3. bradhuss
    Tuesday, January 19, 2010 at 3:44 pm

    i would like to get some thoughts on the process necessary to urge the church to invest in staffing a highly qualified web / creative team – even if part-time over volunteer. most churches give the reasoning of not having the funds. while this may remain true, how can one present a "case" that this should be prioritized to the top of the list of tings to do in order to have an effective website, video production, and creative pieces and stop relying on outsourcing to the neighborhood printshop?

    Reply
    • human3rror
      Wednesday, January 20, 2010 at 1:49 am

      that's tough brad. seriously. it requires some significant value-shifts in your org, especially at the top.

      prayer dude… prayer!

      Reply
  4. Tim Hohm
    Tuesday, January 19, 2010 at 6:04 pm

    Printing this out for today's staff meeting. Thanks!

    Reply
    • human3rror
      Wednesday, January 20, 2010 at 1:46 am

      ENJOY! Hope it helps. have fun with it…!

      Reply
  5. bman
    Tuesday, January 19, 2010 at 6:38 pm

    Great post. I've just recently joined the ranks of the web team at where I work, and now we're sorting out the processes and such to get everything in place. It's a weird world to be in.

    Reply
    • human3rror
      Wednesday, January 20, 2010 at 1:45 am

      SWEET! enjoy the ride.

      Reply
  6. Vin Thomas
    Tuesday, January 19, 2010 at 8:01 pm

    Great article John. I would add this: Have no strategy.

    Ministry Web Teams can be all about the newest trend or a nice design, but fail miserably to build relationships and communicate the message of Christ.

    Reply
    • human3rror
      Wednesday, January 20, 2010 at 1:45 am

      agreed. definitely agree.

      Reply
  7. El Clinto
    Tuesday, January 19, 2010 at 5:09 pm

    Good post. I've been in a situation where #1 and #2 were expected, rather implied as a must of the team and #4 was rarely encouraged from the top. We are not robots.

    Reply

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