Clerical Advice

I often find that the better things are the more comfortable people are complaining. The danger is when people don't complain directly to you.

Plenty of people complain. They don't intend for you to solve their problems. They don't want to hear themselves talk. It is, actually, a form of prayer. If anything, you should complain with them.

And lets not forget that sometimes complaining is fun. For some. Granted it is not fun to listen to, but I suggest that you are paid to listen to complaints.

There are different sorts of complaints. There are the problems you do, actually have to solve. For example:

mistakes in the bulletin and
anything that has to do with money, like sending out accurate pledge reports.

With communications, [the web, newsletter, publicity] work to be accurate. If this is not your gift, find someone who can help you, or set up a system and checklist so that you can get the basics down.

But dont be afraid of complaining. It might just mean you're doing a good job.

Comments

[liz]

what a great point of view. thanks for blowing up my brain (again!)

Miller's Law would come in handy here:

In order to understand what another person is saying, you must:

1. assume it is true and
2. try to imagine what it could be true of."

(Suzette Haden Elgin on Miller's Law; [who writes] : "Chronic communication breakdown happens when we don't realize the source of a problem is language and we take it for granted that the problem is caused by a person""

[sara]

At least people had a sense of humor about it when I wrote in the church newsletter that Ash Wednesday would be on Tuesday.

A good proofreader is worth his or her weight in chocolate. GOOD chocolate!