Creating a Healthy Team Culture
by Terry Scalzitti
There is a growing problem in the ministry world today. Churches are having a difficult time finding enough quality staff and leaders to fill open positions. While there are many different reasons for this, we are starting to see a few large ones become apparent post-pandemic. First, we have all experienced the “great resignation,” where many individuals reevaluated their careers during the pandemic and sought out new opportunities. Second, the Millennial generation is seeking healthier work options and is more willing to be patient before settling into their careers. Bottom line? People are leaving toxic work environments for healthier opportunities.
One would think that this would be beneficial for most churches. Unfortunately, churches share some of the dysfunction that either forces quality individuals to leave ministry or becomes a barrier for anyone considering it. How can churches solve this crisis? How can leaders change this dynamic?
Leaders must create a staff and leadership culture that is supported through discipleship.
When Jesus gave the great commission, he said, “Go and make disciples.” The word disciple means “learner” and speaks to the idea of Christians inspiring others to become a student of Jesus. When we take discipleship and place it in the context of church staff and leadership, we should create a leadership culture where learning is paramount. Of course, your staff and team need to constantly learn how to grow in their faith and how they follow Jesus, but they should also always learn how to lead more effectively. Taking it a step further, churches should be inspiring prospective ministry workers to become leaders of ministry. Alas, there are many barriers that keep churches from creating this type of culture. Leading a team or staff is difficult in itself. But creating and developing the right team with the right culture seems impossible. While difficult, it can be accomplished. Here are seven principles to help elevate your team culture.
#1 A discipleship culture demands growth.
Leaders can sometimes find themselves excusing poor performance because of a beloved person. Have you ever had that one staff or team member that you see make the same mistakes over and over, and you just laugh it away? You just can’t imagine confronting it since they are such a great person. The truth is that this person is stunting the growth of your team. While the heart matters, skill matters also. A discipleship culture demands growth. I’m not suggesting that the only solution is to dismiss this individual. However, they cannot stay in the same place. Something needs to change, which leads us to our second principle.
#2 Don’t be afraid to change seats.
Take a look around your meetings; do they look the same? Are the same people in the room espousing the same ideas or giving the same reports? If so, it’s time to shake things up. I’ve often said that teams are not assigned due to titles. Rather, teams will often change based on the task at hand and the growing skill sets of the individual and organization. I typically change our meeting structure once or twice a year so that our culture understands that their seat on the “bus” will often shift. This creates excitement within the organization while at the same time, conflict. However, conflict can be a good thing, especially when principle #3 is followed.
#3 Healthy is more important than happy.
Does every ministry leader and staff member love you? Is it said of you that nobody dislikes you? If that’s the case, then you probably have flaws in your leadership style. The truth is that strong leaders confront without fear of disappointment. To create a ministry culture with a discipleship foundation, you must desire someone’s healthiness before happiness. I get it, it’s tough to have difficult conversations. It’s difficult to confront someone, especially when it's their passion. But, when you avoid difficult conversations for the sake of happiness, you are doing that person a disservice. A leader desires healthiness far more than happiness because to be truly happy, one must be healthy first.
#4 Treat everyone differently.
You heard me. Yes, I know that some of you have heard the saying, “In order to be an effective leader, you must treat everyone the same.” I wholeheartedly disagree. In fact, you will stunt the growth of your organization if you follow that model. Jesus shared the parable talents in Matthew 25. In this story, we often focus on the servant that didn’t provide a return on what was given to him. However, I believe that there is also a very strong point that is missed. Not everyone is going to have the same talents. One servant had 5 talents and returned 5. The other servant had two talents and returned two. Both worked hard but were different. On our staff teams, we are going to have uniquely different people who can be given more or less, depending on their history, skill set, consistency, etc. Don’t apologize for treating people differently. In fact, when your leaders see individuals growing within the organization, it inspires them to also grow. When everyone is treated the same, it incentivizes mediocrity.
#5 Say it again.
If you’ve ever worked in a preschool classroom, you begin to understand how clear and precise instructions are necessary for success. The same is true on ministry teams. Creating clear and precise expectations for your team is vital for their understanding and growth. It can feel like you are being redundant at times with your teams when you repeat yourself. However, as soon as you feel that, be sure to say it again. In over twenty-five years of managing teams, one of the most common barriers to team growth is miscommunication. Even when I’ve felt that, I’ve been very clear. Even when I have followed up communication in writing, there still has been confusion. Remember, saying it again might drive you crazy, but should give you better results.
#6 Environments Matter.
We have heard that principle when it comes to ministry events. Creating the right environment can open your front door and close the back door of the church. If that principle works for the larger church, why not for our ministry teams? I have seen churches with the absolute worst office and volunteer environments. We seem to think that if we are on the inside, we should all be ok with sacrifice. While I understand that sentiment, I can tell you it doesn’t work. Where you huddle your staff and leaders matter. Creating the right environment can foster growth within your team. We’ve heard it said that discipleship happens within the context of small groups. The same can be said for our ministry teams. Understanding the personalities of your leaders can help you create the right environments for their success. Some leaders need constant community to foster creativity and initiative. Others on the team need their own space to recharge and bring their best. When you care about your environment, you give your teams the best chance at growth.
#7 Start Smart.
In the business world, it is often said that hiring is a 50/50 proposition. Some individuals seem like the perfect fit, whether it's business or ministry. However, you can often tell quickly whether it will work out in the long term. Starting smart means that you learn to “fire fast.” When creating a discipleship culture within your staff or leadership teams, it's important that you start smart. Sometimes, we hang on too long when we know that it just isn’t a fit. We think that we can rescue them, or we can disciple them to fit on the team. Some individuals are just not the right fit for your team. When you know that it just isn’t fit, the best decision is a quick one. I’ve been guilty of excusing bad behavior because of friendship or a belief that they will ultimately fit. All along, in my gut, I knew that it wasn’t going to get better. Firing fast helps you to start smart with someone who will be a better fit and help foster the growth that you are experiencing as a team. Holding on to the wrong fit will not only their growth but the growth of your team as well.
Discipleship is a core principle of the Christian faith. However, it doesn’t just happen. It takes intentional, pain-staking steps to create the right environments where growth occurs. While traveling through the deserts of western Israel, I noticed a large area that had a covering. Intrigued, I inquired about it with our guide. He explained that over many years, they had figured out how to create the right environments to grow incredible amounts of fruit. Here we are, in the middle of the desert, and I was staring at some of the largest fruit trees I’ve ever seen. You might be staring at your situation, and it seems like you are in the desert. But if you work hard at these principles, growth can happen, even when it seems impossible.
