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In talking with radio people at Momentum and previous GMA
events, I continue to hear the same story year after year. The
constant struggle of getting things done and the ways we have to put
up with co-workers working style along with the stress of
fundraising. There are so many stations that have small staffs and
small budgets. This, I believe, puts more stress and puts us on edge
no matter what the market.
We can't always get together with our
staff to find ways to improve communication. Sometimes we have to
have that "come to Jesus meeting" with those who just don't get it
however, The ability to affirm good work and continue to pray for
our co-workers can go much farther then we give credit for. Stormie
Omartian is the author of “The Power of the Praying Wife” which
spawned a series of other books for husbands, Men, Women and
Parents.
Reading these books and learning how to pray for each other
has changed people’s lives around the world so I believe with all
the pressures we face at our stations and the attack our families go
under needs attention as truly commit to praying for our staff. This
also means more than just a request made at staff meetings. Since,
we can't change people all we can do is pray for them, I believe we
can train and challenge our team professionally and spiritually.
As we pray for our staff, it helps change the way we
handle the attitudes of those we work with as well. Even when I pray
for people who are strong in areas that I'm weak, we all can learn
how to support one another as we live life together. It also stands
the chance to better our communication style or personality skills
with them and be better for the station as a whole. There are a few
ways to break this down so you can affectively pray for your staff
today.
I. Pray for your coworkers Spiritual Walk.
John 15:7 says “if you stay joined to me and my words remain in you.
You may ask any request you like, and it will be granted!” This can
allow our staff to be close to God as they show up for work each day
and to help them turn to Him when the stress level start to rise.
2. Pray for your co-workers Priorities.
Ecclesiastes 3:1 says “There is a time for everything a season for
every activity under heaven.” (Go on and sing the Byrds now, I’ll
wait!) We not only need to be praying for each other’s priorities at
work but also each other’s priorities outside of the station. I've
seen radio affect marriages, keep us from our kids and distract as
from God (yes even in ministry) and to loose sight it can affect our
work and how we relate to those around us. The next time someone
snaps at you don't always think it's about the task at hand. People
are always dealing with so much more then they show on the surface.
Holding a game face can often hide the things we need to share with
our staff that can give us the support and peace we need to get
through it and bring us out of isolation.
3. Pray for your co-workers mood.
Psalms 30:5 talks about how “joy comes in the morning.” How our
staff looks at a project or tasks today can greatly affect our
ability to complete it. Whether it’s their own show or
promotions/production deadlines, even the pressures of pledge drive
can affect the whole staff. A cool book to suggest as you invest
into your team its “QBQ: The Question Behind The Question” by John
G. Miller. The basic concept there is you can’t change people or
situations but you can change how you react to them.
4. Pray for your co-workers desires and
passions. Everyone on your team has a gift and a passion to use
it. If you've read the book “Good to Great” then you know how
important it is to have the right people in the right seats on your
bus and praying for their passions can strengthen your staff in
those seats. The stations lid is raised drastically as your staff
grows in their passions. Psalms 145:19 says “He fulfills the desires
of those who fear him” He hears their cries for help and rescues
them. If God's desires in your staff are coming from Him, why not
ask God to help them stay passionate so they can use it to glorify
Him? John Ortberg mentions in his book “The Me I Want To Be” that
the very thing that draws us to God can also distract us from Him as
well. So helping each team player on your staff better manage the
power of the passions in their life can great empower them. It can
even spark other team members in the process.
5. Pray for your Co-Workers Relationships.
Proverbs 12:26 says “The godly give good advice to their friends;
the wicked lead them astray.” This is not just about the
relationships in your life but your relationships to the industry
and to the listeners. There's a constant awareness of ways to
connect on the air and at events, but having the right kinds of
relationships with the labels and management companies and even
local media are all resources that an make our jobs easier. We want
to have the right kind of relationships with the people we work with
as it lifts them up on a daily basis and allows us to accomplish big
things for our station and more importantly the listener.
6. Pray for God's Will. This can really
impact your station in the ways of fundraising and support. God
knows the needs of your station. Jeremiah 29:11 talks about the
plans He has to give it’s “a hope and a future.” The need to see
your station succeed is in His hands whether we want to admit that
or not. Praying for God's Will at just your station allows His will
to show up and show off.
There are so many do's and don’t’s for any
radio station. The things we have to be looking for are how your
leadership in your company can challenge your staff and use them to
the best of their abilities. As you share these points with your
staff, it empowers them to pray for you and comforts them to know
that you're praying for them and we know that 'A staff that prays to
together stays together'.
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Ace McKay is a
Consultant and Talent Coach for Ace Books Consulting. He can be
reached at
acemckay@gmail.com.
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