Managing Staff
Dan McCarthy shares six different types of bosses… which kind of boss are you? 1. Great Leaders: 10% These are those rare bosses that are able to consistently bring out the best in others and achieve extraordinary results. They are the ones that make a positive difference in the lives of their employees, organizations, and the world… read more
Tom Harper writes: In Leadership Axioms - a must-read collection of leadership principles – Bill Hybels provides a roadmap for employing constructive confrontation as a leadership tool. They trick, of course, is keeping it from going sour. While the word “confrontation” connotes very few positive or constructive feelings, Hybels’ advice is highly practical for those of us looking… read more
By Rodney Cox As I travel the country and world speaking to leaders, my heart breaks hearing their stories. Division in churches has become so commonplace that those of us in ministry have either experienced a split or know someone who has. It may shock you to learn that in the U.S., 1,600 pastors are… read more
Bill Easum has some great wisdom on managing your church staff. He’s worked with hundreds of churches in a consultant role. Bill says that seminary really didn’t teach him some of the church staff management skills that he found he really needed as a pastor when it came to supervising a staff. As a… read more
Here is a sample Employee Handbook from Old North Church TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction Our Purpose Statement Our Vision Statement Our Values Statement Purpose of Staff Handbook Administration of Personnel Policies Objectives of Personnel Policies Classification of Employees Conduct A. Conduct and Attitude Toward Others B. Attire C. Conduct Issues Between Staff and Others III.… read more
Kimberly Pope Seiberling writes: It is easy for leaders to avoid becoming involved in disagreements or to overreact to staff conflicts. Neither approach is healthy. Below are some reminders for leaders who are more than just staff referees. Let’s get rid of our whistles and striped shirts and meet staff conflicts head-on. 1. Be creative:… read more
Richard Hammar writes: Disputes occasionally arise between church employees, or between an employee and the church itself. These disputes can be costly and time consuming, and cause a breakdown in relationships. And if an employee sues the church, the lawsuit may not be covered under the church’s liability insurance policy as a result of an… read more
Charles Stone writes: Many businesses, and churches as well, are minimizing overt hierarchy arrangements in favor of more equal staff relationships. Open space offices have also become popular while at the same time org charts seem to have largely disappeared. I believe I understand one reason why: trust in institutions and leaders has dramatically dropped.… read more
Perry Noble writes: #1 – “Can Do” This is the person that if you tell them you want to land a 747 on the stage of your church they immediately begin to brainstorm as to how it can be done. They have a fire and passion and really do believe that NOTHING is impossible with… read more
Bill Wilson writes: Here is a crude effort to delineate the difference between healthy staff leadership and unhealthy staff control. When a decision point is reached in a committee or team meeting and everyone swivels to see what the staff member (who is always present) has to say, and the vote is always a result… read more
Matt Steen and Todd Rhoades discuss the top ten reasons your still will leave in 2013. Take heed: much of making sure your church staff stays long-term depends on you as a leader. Join this discussion on how to best stop church staff attrition. CLICK IMAGE TO WATCH VIDEO (Length: 4 min 56 sec) Subscribe… read more
It is a high calling to be a pastor and a leader, but it is also imperative that pastors become effective office managers. When most pastors said yes to the call of God to ministry, they were probably not thinking about managing the church office. They saw themselves behind the pulpit preaching the gospel, baptizing… read more
Churches are often full of secrets. Nothing sinister, just quirks you wouldn’t notice unless you spent a lot of time sitting at the receptionist’s desk or in the parish administrators’ office. Things like remembering to give the gate a thud to get it to shut on rainy days or that an old man comes by… read more
Your church staff may be the most valuable resource in your ministry. How you manage your staff is key to creating a safe and productive work environment. It’s a big job, but our simple tips can help you get started. When You Hire Know when to hire. Volunteers are a valuable resource for every ministry,… read more
Pastors and staff members are public people. While in the public eye, they can easily become the targets of slander or criticism. In the area of sexual matters, the church staff can be protected from scandal and accusations of sexual misconduct by careful planning. These steps not only protect your staff but they may protect… read more
Years ago, Google allowed their employees to spend up to 20% of their work time on side projects. What if churches let church staff blog, create, dream, build, write, or encourage creativity through side projects? Allowing church staff to express themselves through under utilized skills or talents may help a church find a new ministry.… read more
For a pastor to bring in associate ministers for his church can be a wonderful boost to his work, a blessing to the congregation, and a lift to the associate’s career. But it’s also scary, a real faith venture which can and sometimes does go badly. Here are a few considerations on the subject.) 1.… read more
I‘ve been asked this question often throughout my 20 years of ministry at Saddleback. I’ve talked with countless pastors and church leaders about staffing issues. I sincerely empathize with them as I listen to the horrors they face concerning staff difficulties. Unfortunately, most of the problems they face, and are now asking for guidance to… read more
I’m only 53 (wow, has my perspective changed!), yet I can see that my role in church leadership is shifting slowly but certainly. While 10 years ago I was all about doing the work of the ministry, now I’m increasingly about helping others do the work of the ministry. That doesn’t mean I’m not doing… read more
Regardless of where you are with your staff—really loving them or ready to leave them—this article is dedicated to help you better lead and manage your staff. Pastor Ken* called me for advice about his music pastor. His first words were: “I think he’s saved, but I’m not sure.” It got worse from there. Ken… read more