Things I’ve learned that create a healthy culture on a church staff...

Things I’ve learned that create a healthy culture on a church staff: (it really could apply to about any leadership team)

-       When someone from staff is on vacation, occasionally go around the meeting table and have everyone share something they love about the absent teammate.  Write down what everyone says and send it to them on their vacation.  Nothing creates more comradery than speaking well of one another behind each other’s backs. Godly gossip rocks!

-       From time to time, send a note of encouragement to the staff member’s spouse (if they are married).  Not just a birthday note, but a personal note to let them know how thankful you are for them and maybe some ways that you’re praying for their family.

-       Foster an environment where you can pull personal pranks on each other.  There is something about joking around with one another that builds trust and relaxation.  If you’re not good at taking jokes, get over yourself.  Why so serious?

-       Don’t just share the respectable aspects of your life, that goes without saying…share the not so comely parts as well.  It’s hard to share your weaknesses in an environment where leadership is only putting it’s best foot forward.  Put your other smelly, warty foot forward as well.

-       Give your team the big stage when there’s a high stakes moment happening.  Don’t take all the primetime moments and leave the leftovers for the lowlifes (cause that’s how it can feel).  It shows relational trust to let them fail/succeed with a do or die moment.  

-       Don’t be afraid to let your staff know how much you need them…that you can’t just go on or get on with or without them…that your life is wedded with theirs and that your present/future is deeply affected by their personal commitment to the mission. Depend on them.

-       Don’t underestimate how void of encouragement your team might be even if it seems like they are liked by a lot of people.  Take time to inject a vaccine of affirmation into them for who they are and what they are doing.  Look for little moments to bolster them after they pour themselves out.  

-       Find out the things your team members enjoy doing outside of their work environment and job description, and ask them about how those things are going.  Enjoyment is as important as employment, that is to say it’s just as crucial to care about their joy quotient as it is their job performance.

-       Make excuses to celebrate just about anything good that happens with some food at lunch and an invitation to connect together and party.  Stop the meeting and start the eating, people!  Breaking bread was a major part of the early church…it still is.

-       Brag on your staff to other people in the church.  Things like: “I just love having them around here.”  “I don’t know what we’d do without a heart like theirs on our team.”  “They are doing a great job!”  “What I love about them is…”  It doesn’t hurt to talk well of your team from the stage every now and then.  No one is dying of too much encouragement. 

 

(I’ve learned these things from my team and with my team over the years.  So grateful for the God squad I have around me.)