The size of an Intervention Window

Unplanned things happen.

People are sick.

Misadventure strikes.

Accidents occur.

You goof and double-book yourself.

No matter how it occurs, you then enter the intervention window.

A countdown for when you can - reasonably - call someone to step into the breach.

Context will determine how big this window is.

How important is the event?

How competent is the person?

Does the activity need to run exactly as planned?

When I was in ministry, the window was usually three days.

With 72 hours notice, someone should be able to plan anything. 

It may be a tad rushed, but this will be enough time to plan a sermon, sketch out the logistics of an event or collate what they need for an activity.

At times, the ministry window will be shorter, but this may cost you some relational or vocational currency.

Within teaching, the window is far smaller.

As small as 20 minutes.

This should be all the time you require to pull something passable together.

In part, this is due to the repetitive nature of teaching and the abundance of resources.

Any teacher worth their pay-grade, should only be restricted by the time it takes to photocopy a resource.

Over the course of any year, on multiple occasions, you’ll be called upon to step into an unforeseen gap.

And you need to be able to step in.

Better yet, as you gain experience, you should be the one who volunteers to step in.

This is a sign of a true professional.

And, better yet, a valued colleague.