Your first impression
As cliché as it sounds, it’s true- you never get a second chance to make a first impression. And first impressions can be hard to overcome. In fact, research has shown that the average visitor will decide within the first seven minutes whether they will come back to your church. Seven minutes. That’s not long. Depending on the day, the weather, the traffic in the parking lot, and how long your driveway is, they might have just made it into your lobby at that point. And when they do, what will they find? Is there clear wayfinding to help people locate important things like the auditorium, kids’ spaces, and restrooms? What about a cry room? Many guests and young parents won’t feel comfortable leaving their baby in the nursery. What do they do if she gets fussy during the service?
If you’re like many ministry professionals, it’s probably been a while since you were the new guy at church. You may have forgotten what that experience is like. It can be unsettling. Where do I go? What if I walk in the wrong door? Where do my kids go? Will they hate it? Do I even want them to go there? Can I trust these people with my baby? Where is the bathroom? Am I going to have to sit at the front? Or worse- will I have to talk to people I don’t know??
If you’re an extrovert, or just a really friendly & confident person, you may not have any of those worries. But statistically speaking, at least half the world is less than confidently extroverted. And even the most confident of us can feel unsettled in an unfamiliar environment.
Beyond knowing where things are, what does it sound like? Is it as quiet and somber as a funeral home? Or is it deafening because it’s all hard surfaces, loud conversations, and hype music? What does it smell like? Is it musty or damp? Are there cork bulletin boards on the wall, or praise banners that went up a few decades ago?
Or does your lobby say “we’ve anticipated your needs”, “we’re normal people, too”, “we understand what the world is like now”. If your lobby is confusing, loud, stuffy, or outdated, you may have already lost the opportunity to make a lasting connection because they’ve already decided “This was a mistake. It’s too awkward to walk out now, but I won’t be coming back.”
Don’t let a neglected or poorly considered lobby make a bad first impression on your guests. Take the time to walk through with fresh eyes and consider all aspects of what you see, hear, smell, touch, and even taste. And let me know if you want to get started on making a better first impression. Because those seven minutes count, and they go fast.
