Try this group exercise at your next church staff meeting: Have everyone move to a different part of the room and exchange seats. Ask for their impressions. Many will express amazement at how much their viewpoints change by simply seeing things from a different angle.

The writer of Ecclesiastes observed:

That which has been is that which will be,

And that which has been done is that which will be done. So there is nothing new under the sun.

Some might read these profound words and see them as an accurate description of the way things are done at their church. The philosophy can be discouraging—unless we give ourselves the gift of a new perspective, the gift of seeing old things in new ways.

You can apply the technique to all sorts of circumstances at work and at home. Let’s explore how seeing things in new ways applies to this challenge shared by a ministry assistant.

• Our staff meetings are a disaster. People drift in late; as each arrives, the pastor recaps what has gone on before. He grouses about the tardiness, but doesn’t really do anything about it. Is there something I can do?

Well, maybe. That depends entirely on the pastor. It is his meeting and his responsibility. He absolutely can get the meetings on track. But, does he want to? And will he allow you to show him how? If he is not willing to look at this old problem in a new way, if he is fine with letting others show such a lack of respect for his leadership (for that is what it is) your hands are pretty much tied.

Techniques for getting meetings started on time—

• Distribute a written agenda before the meeting and indicate an end time. This reinforces the leader’s concept that time is valuable and is to be used wisely. Of course, once the meeting is under way, time must be used wisely. Nothing causes conscientious people to lose enthusiasm for meetings as much as having their time wasted.

• Place items having the most importance to the most people at the top of the agenda. Discuss those first. Some staff meetings excuse members after their areas of ministry are discussed. These usually conclude with just the remaining two or three ministerial staff members. Though there may be pros about this style, the big negative may be a fragmenting of the team: I’m interested in my area of ministry, not much interested in yours.

• Close the door of the meeting room at the announced starting time. A note on the door can announce the meeting is in session. Start the meeting precisely on time. Move immediately to the scheduled agenda. If someone arrives late, acknowledge the arrival with a nod without comment; some people actually come late for the attention factor. Do not recap to fill the tardy person in on what has been missed. If he asks, he should be told to touch base after the meeting with the person taking the minutes. No need to be rude, but be firm.

Will looking at this old problem in a new way—and doing something about it—take some effort? For sure. But it may be the only way to make believers of those who seem to think their time is more valuable than everyone else’s. You decide.