15 ways to make your church staff feel like crap

OK… Scott uses a nicer way to say this:

15 Proven Ways to Demotivate Your Staff

Have you ever been a part of a church staff that made you feel like crap?

Where you hated to go to work?

Where you were waiting for the next thing to blow up?

Chances are, you have at one time or another in your ministry.

And the reason:  leaders sometimes, knowingly or unknowingly (although I think it’s almost always knowingly) demotivate their staff.  Here are some ways to do it:

1. When someone complains about a staff member, always assume the complainer has a legitimate beef. Take the complainer’s side when you meet with your staff person.
2. Never drop by a staff member’s office (except when you want something).
3. Never attend their ministry gatherings.
4. Make them jump through hoops before approving their request to attend a conference.
5. Don’t show up at staff parties and functions. (If you must, show up late and stay for just a few minutes).
6. Withhold information.
7. Don’t involve them in leadership conversations, unless it’s specifically about their department.
8. Constantly compare them to their counterpart running “that great ministry in the church down the street”.
9. Don’t answer their emails or voicemails. If you must respond, take a very long time to do so.
10. Impose significant change on them without seeking their input.

Scott gives you five more here…

Leaders, please strike these 15 things from the way you lead.

Love on your staff.

Be there for them.

Treat them like you would your family.

Because the moment you start treating them like an employee, you’re in trouble.

That doesn’t mean everything is always rosy and peachy.  (Sometimes families have problems they have to deal with).  But it does mean that you value and love your employees (and don’t purposefully make them feel like crap).

Thoughts?

Todd