Podcast Episode 04 - Enjoy Successful Staff Relationships!

In a 200church, we may have only one or two other staff members who work along with us. This means that if you and the “other guy” are at odds, there may not be anyone else for you to talk with! Staff relationships are so crucial in churches with just a few staff. Perhaps it’s you and a part time assistant, or you and a part time youth worker. Maybe it’s just you and your elders, deacons, and/or leadership team. No matter who you’re working with, the relationships that you have with those people are extremely important to the life of your church.
 
In this podcast, Jonny and Jeff talk about the importance of successful staff relationships and discuss some ways to create a healthy environment where they can thrive.

The four major themes they discuss regarding staff relationships are:

1. Clarify expectations on the staff. If each staff member knows what is expected of him or her, life in ministry is just that much easier. Communication is key.
2. Give the person who has the responsibility for a ministry the authority to make decisions about that ministry. This builds trust on the staff, and affirms the ownership the staff member has in their area. It also lets a staff member “fail forward” and gain needed experience. Experience comes through success and failure.
3. Create accountability within the staff. This should not just be for the associate or the volunteer. The senior leader should also allow him/herself to be held accountable to the commitments and responsibilities he or she has. Jonny advises to schedule accountability meetings so staff can be prepared for and look forward to them, rather than being surprised and stressed. Accountability keeps people moving forward and helps them to achieve goals.
4. Leadership needs to support the ministries of all staff members. For example, a youth pastor will wonder – “are youth important to our church?” If affirmation is not felt, your youth worker will not feel supported. Are you giving the youth ministry adequate room? A big enough budget? Are people willing to volunteer? Help your youth worker by supporting his/her efforts and affirming his/her wins. Everyone wants to feel valued and supported, so support your staff members!  Supported staff become supportive staff and that creates healthy staff relationships.
   

The common thread through all of this is communication. A staff cannot shine without excellent communication. As staff, communicate your expectations and communicate your appreciation to each other. If there is “a thing” between you as staff – step up to the plate and deal with it! Your 200church deserves nothing less, and you will enjoy successful staff relationships!

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