I’ve had church leaders ask me in the past about how business practices can be applied to make churches more efficient places of worship. Thinking about this the other day, I realized there is plenty that businesses can learn from churches.
A place for a community to gather. Every Sunday, people from all around the world gather in churches because they are places to worship together, to socialize, and to share a common purpose. When people organize like this around a brand, it makes a huge difference for the bottom line.
A place where a common language and common liturgy are shared. There’s a psychological bond that is made when people share in the same rituals. In creates an “in” feeling amongst those who understand the language.
Take Facebook for example: when I chat with others about Facebook, it usually involves talk of posting on walls, tagging of photos, or who poked whom. These are things only Facebook users understand. More firms need to latch on to this idea. Nothing builds community faster than common rituals and common language.
A place with recognizable icons. Similar to the rituals, there are a few symbols of Christianity that you know you will most likely see in any church: a cross, a Bible, a pulpit, a steeple. These icons carry with them a promise that this institution is familiar and safe. This same safeness was essential to the development of the idea of brands and logos. People want to know what they’re getting.
A place where people know you. People go to churches because it is one of the only places where people genuinely care about getting to know you (ideally–I realize not all churches are like this). You are more than just a butt in a seat. Your well-being is cared for.
Imagine the revolution if businesses began treating customers that way. Imagine if your mechanic went out of his way to help find you a rental car. Imagine if your local shoe salesman overheard that you were looking for a good Italian place for dinner and made some recommendations. It doesn’t take much in our age of distance to create some closeness and some loyalty.
Are there other ways that businesses can learn from churches–or any other naturally communal institution? I’d love to hear some more nonconventional approaches to business practices.
Photo credit: seier+seier+seier
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great points! My initial thought was that this might be a “what-not-to-do” blog, but I guess learning is a 2-way street.