When I first started doing IT work I, like many young upstarts, felt like I needed to “prove” myself. This, of course, is the stupidest thing to try to do since everyone knows you’re the n00b and it makes it even more obvious when the n00b tries not to be the n00b.
But, it really gets weird when you get two n00bs in the same room… you know, that really awkward moment where I know that both myself and the other person have no idea what the problem is… and as a result, we have no idea what the solution is either.
What’s fascinating is how we continue to skate the issue (and solution) for as long as we possibly can before someone either saves us or we just “move on” and agree to “handle it later.”
*Bah
I now have come to terms with my limitations and I find it incredibly easy to admit that I don’t know how to do something. Imagine how much time we’d save if we we’re all that honest!
To me that’s why it’s important to build relationships with your volunteers and other people in your church that are knowledgeable in the areas you service. I’d be willing to bet that no matter how experienced you get, there’s probably someone in your church that has more experience at something you deal with on a daily basis. It’s great if you have good relationships with that person and can call them up and ask them a question.
For me, I touch on a lot of topics during my day job: audio/visual, marketing, IT, creative stuff, web stuff (you could say I’m required to be broad and shallow). So I’ve built up a team (people who might be described as narrow and deep) that know they have the freedom to come talk to me about something they see that’s not right, and I have the freedom to call them and ask for their advice or assistance on an issue I’m facing.