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Please join me for this upcoming, online course through Luther Seminary, Faith+Lead. Three live webcasts August 15, 22, and 29, 2023 (nine contact hours) 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM Central Time On-demand replay of the entire course Experiments and assignments to try in context A safe space to connect, discuss, and share What you will […]
Read MoreThe pandemic unraveled staff team structures. Resignations and retirements were at an all-time high. Downsizing was necessary for some. Many hired new staff to respond to the unique needs of a pandemic era. Now, things are settling down and leaders are questioning whether they have the right configuration of staff. Fruitful staffing conversations begin with […]
Read MoreCongregations are often confused about the power dynamics of supervision. Supervisors know they are supposed to ensure good performance. At the same time, supervisors want to model compassionate, kind, collaborative behavior. Employees want to know what is expected of them but don’t like being controlled or micromanaged. Congregants don’t want anyone abusing power. It’s tough […]
Read MoreMany congregations assign to each staff member a personnel liaison: a lay leader who serves on the board or personnel committee and is charged with supporting that specific team member. Few congregations manage these liaison roles well, and as a result they often do more harm than good. Congregations appoint liaisons for a variety of […]
Read MorePerformance management conversations are inherently difficult. It is just hard to talk with another about failed expectations. When the supervisor and employee don’t share similar cultural backgrounds, these conversations can be treacherous. Race is not easy to talk about. Neither are differences in expectations that arise from gender, age or ethnicity. Cultural differences may include […]
Read MoreOnly the largest congregations have the resources to hire full-time supervisors. The average congregation employs a “head of staff” who also preaches, teaches, provides pastoral care, leads mission and ministry, and guides the work of the board. Given this breadth of responsibility, how many employees can a pastor effectively supervise? What happens when a supervisor […]
Read MoreWe have great leaders. They just don’t work together collaboratively. What we accomplish together is sometimes less impactful than the sum of our individual parts, because we spend precious time and energy protecting individual or departmental turf. This is silo mentality. Silos are artificial boundaries put up to accomplish personal goals and keep others […]
Read MoreOn airplanes, adults are told to put their mask on before helping others so they will be fully conscious. In churches, adults need to attend to their own spiritual consciousness before they can ably assist children and youth with faith formation. Unfortunately, the way in which we structure our staff teams reinforces semi-conscious adult faith […]
Read MoreThe problem with most planning is that people simply don’t do what they have declared they want to do. There is a goal setting technique that claims a 300% increase in the likelihood of goal attainment. It is called the if-then plan. Heidi Grant Halvorson, the associate director of Columbia Business School’s Motivation Science Center, […]
Read MoreWarning: This blog post makes blatant use of leadership gender stereotypes. Read at your own risk! I have led several recent conferences, involving clusters of congregations coming together to explore leadership in large congregations. In these settings there are typically ten to fifteen congregations represented. Each congregation brings a table full of staff leaders. I […]
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