Take a second to really consider: are your staff satisfied in their roles?
As we all know, the power of any team is multiplied when its members are unified. But too often, church staff teams are marked by division and poorly managed conflict. I hope you haven’t experienced it, but there’s a good chance you will at some point.
It’s our job as leaders to ensure our team is healthy, cared for, and empowered. Many years ago, I came across an article by Marcus Buckingham that laid out 12 questions employers should ask their employees relating to job satisfaction. It still provides great insights for leaders. I challenge you to go through Marcus’s questions with your team:
- Do I know what is expected of me at work?
- Do I have the materials and equipment that I need in order to do my work right?
- At work, do I have the opportunity to do what I do best every day?
- In the past seven days, have I received recognition or praise for doing good work?
- Does my supervisor, or someone at work, seem to care about me as a person?
- Is there someone at work who encourages my development?
- At work, do my opinions seem to count?
- Does the mission or purpose of my company make me feel that my job is important?
- Are my coworkers committed to doing quality work?
- Do I have a best friend at work?
- In the past six months, has someone at work talked to me about my progress?
- This past year, have I had opportunities at work to learn and grow?
Regular, open communication like this with your team can help you spot potential issues before they arise. These questions can help you realize when people are in the wrong roles for their talent or passion. They can help you root out unhealthy leadership styles or an insufficient leadership development path. Most importantly, creating a culture of open dialogue is a foundation for unity.
It can be difficult to diagnose more complex staffing issues on your own. We often see churches with staff who don’t feel like they belong, who have a staffing gap on their team, or who simply hired too many staff members.
We love helping churches position their staff team to best fit both the ministry and the individuals involved. If your church has outgrown its current structure, take a look at how our Staffing & Structure Review process can help you realign your staff to your vision.
You’re perfectly structured to get the results you’re getting today. If you don’t like the results you’re getting, it might be time for a change.Is it time to restructure?
One of the most common lids to growth in a church is staff structure.