This is Kerrick Thomas – and for the last 12 years I’ve served alongside of Nelson Searcy as Executive Pastor of The Journey Church. I’m guest blogging today and would like to talk to you about the simple power of a sticky note.

Using a Post-It to add a personal touch can bring about impressive results.

A university study1 showed the simple power of a sticky note. This experiment involved sending out lengthy, tedious surveys to three different groups of professors (fifty professors in each group) through interoffice mail:

• Group 1 received a survey with a sticky note attached asking for the return of the completed survey.
• Group 2 received a survey with the same handwritten message on the cover letter instead of an attached sticky note.
• Group 3 received a survey without a handwritten message.

• It doesn’t match the environment. The sticky note takes up space and looks a bit cluttered. The brain, therefore, wants it gone.
• It’s difficult to ignore.
• It’s personalized. (That’s the difference between Group 2 and Group 3 in the experiment.)
• Ultimately, the sticky note represents one person communicating with another important person, almost as if it is a favor or special request, which makes the recipient feel important.

How we can apply it to our ministries?

• Reminders. Put it on your computer or desk – it demands attention. You’ll want to get rid of it.
• Follow-up. Use sticky notes for follow-up to baptisms, new believers and membership classes. When sending out a new believer packet, for example, you can put a handwritten Post-It right on the letter. I recently wrote out 58 sticky notes to follow up with new believers from the kickoff of our “God on Film” sermon series.
• Delegation. Use a Post-It note when delegating a task to your staff – put that personal touch. See if that doesn’t improve the quality of the task and how quickly it gets done.

¹Original study printed in Harvard Business Review in an article by Kevin Hogan, PsyD, author of The Science of Influence and The Psychology of Persuasion.

© Nelson Searcy. All Rights Reserved.

About Nelson Searcy

Nelson Searcy is an experienced church growth strategist, pastor, church planter and coach, consulting with churches around the world. As founder of Church Leader Insights and the Renegade Pastors Network, he has personally trained more than 3,500 church leaders in over 45 denominations through live events, seminars and monthly coaching. Nelson is also the Founding and Lead Pastor of The Journey Church, with locations across New York City and in Boca Raton, FL. Nelson and his church routinely appear on lists such as “The 50 Most Influential Churches” and “The 25 Most Innovative Leaders.” He is the author of over 100 church growth resources and 18+ books, including The Renegade Pastor: Abandoning Average in Your Life, Ministry and The Difference Maker: Using Your Everyday Life for Eternal Impact, and At the Cross with the People Who Were There. He and his wife, Kelley, have one son, Alexander.