Decathlete:<\/strong> The church planter or solo pastor often performs alone and has to do many different events, often without much help. There’s tons of freedom, but it’s also lonely.<\/p>\n\n\n\nIn this situation, the \u201cstaff\u201d is almost all volunteer leaders. These folks are busy with work and family, and time is precious. A lousy meeting is costly and demoralizing to people with already packed schedules. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Rather than being highly tactical, these meetings are usually vision and heart-oriented to keep these hard-working leaders connected to the bigger purpose. Most tactical work, updates, and decisions must be communicated through email, phone calls, or individual conversations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In this stage, a pastor may benefit from having occasional special meetings that are more like the \u201cStrategic\u201d or \u201cOffsite,\u201d where leaders spend extended time trying to solve a specific set of problems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Golfing Buddies:<\/strong> A small staff team is like a group of friends playing golf. Some are great, some are lousy, but it doesn’t matter \u2014 it’s just fun to do it together. Everyone watches everyone else’s shots, and it’s highly relational. It feels like colleagues and close friends.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThere\u2019s not much distinction between the \u201csenior leadership\u201d and the \u201cstaff\u201d in this staff size \u2014 it\u2019s basically the same group of people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Small staff teams need to do the most work to distinguish between the types of meetings they\u2019re having. Otherwise, every meeting starts to feel the same or ends up mushed into one. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
These teams would benefit from having 1-2 separate and specifically focused meetings per week rather than just one all-in-one meandering meeting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Basketball Team:<\/strong> As it grows, it’s still a team \u2014 but now there’s more specialization. Now, there are starters, bench players, and a star who takes clutch shots. Everyone still watches every play. Camaraderie is high, but nobody expects to be best friends. <\/p>\n\n\n\nThe shift from Golfing Buddies to Basketball is one of the more challenging moves because it involves loss for some people. What once was everyone in the same room for everything <\/em>is now some people in the room for everything <\/em>and other people in the room if needed<\/em>. <\/p>\n\n\n\nIn other words, there\u2019s now a difference between \u201csenior leadership\u201d and the \u201cstaff.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
At this stage, there are usually multiple smaller teams working on particular areas of ministry, each of which might do a number of the kinds of meetings outlined above. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Because most of the creative work, decision-making, and troubleshooting is taking place in these smaller environments, the \u201call-staff\u201d meeting becomes more about spiritual and relational connection, sharing vision and heartbeat, and creating bonding experiences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In Basketball, the overall staff is still relatively small and often sees and relates to each other informally. Therefore, all-staff meetings can happen less frequently (maybe monthly or bimonthly).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Football Team:<\/strong> Large teams are highly specialized, with sub-teams that don’t even know what others are always doing. There’s a close-knit relationship within sub-teams, but any person may hardly even know everyone else on the larger team. Trust is required, even though relationships are thin.<\/p>\n\n\n\nAt this stage, another staff layer typically emerges: \u201cmiddle management.\u201d Rather than everyone on staff reporting to one of the senior leaders, some will start reporting to other staff who then report to senior leadership.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When a staff is playing football, there are often multiple paid people in each department or ministry area, and each of these teams feel like they are doing their own version of Golfing Buddies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At this point, the key role of \u201call-staff\u201d meetings is to create connection around vision and heartbeat and fight against the natural silos that develop between teams. Staff meetings become a strategic moment to cultivate appreciation for other teams and leaders and create relational experiences for people to get to know those outside their close working relationships. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In Football, the staff is so large and otherwise disconnected that meeting more frequently (even for shorter periods) becomes valuable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is where my church\u2019s staff currently is. We now have a weekly \u201cstanding\u201d meeting (where everyone literally stands for up to 15 minutes to find out about what\u2019s happening over the next week on campus) followed by a 45-minute staff meeting that is focused largely on camaraderie, spiritual development, training, and culture-building.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Decide What Game Your Staff Is Playing<\/h3>\n\n\n\n One of the most challenging dynamics in a growing church has to do with \u201cwhat game we\u2019re playing.\u201d For many staff, the sweet spot is probably golf or basketball \u2014 large enough to be part of a team but small enough for it to feel close. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
But, inevitably, change is required as it grows. So wise pastors and leaders take a \u201cfor now\u201d approach to their team and all-staff meetings, knowing that the needs will change and adapt over time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/noscript><\/figure>\n\n\n\nSimple Suggestions for Better Church Staff Meetings<\/h2>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s not as hard as some people think to make meetings better. Here are ten suggestions:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\nGet the right people in the room \u2014 too many people or the wrong people wastes time.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n\nPrepare (it doesn’t take much) \u2014 Just 10-15 minutes of jotting down bullet points to prep will make the meeting 80% better.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n\nMake them shorter \u2014 cutting 15 minutes would improve almost every meeting.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n\nMake them longer \u2014 big vision conversations, strategic overhauls, and deep relational investments should get more time.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n\nDraw out thinkers \u2014 Be sure to invite input from those least likely to pipe up. You need them.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n\nIf it can be sent in an email, leave it out of the meeting \u2014 email updates allow follow-up if needed.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n\nIf somebody has to be on Zoom, everyone is on Zoom \u2014 it\u2019s much easier to do a virtual meeting with everyone rather than one person trying to listen in to the larger room.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n\nWhen possible, end early \u2014 there\u2019s something psychologically satisfying about a meeting that ends a few minutes early.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n\nGive margin on the front and back of meetings \u2014 that way, if it goes long or something happens that needs attention, you\u2019re not forced to rush out abruptly.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n\nValue the “wasted time” before and after \u2014 the time before & after are where camaraderie is built, jokes emerge, and one-off stuff can get dealt with.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\nStaff Meeting Devotions & Prayer<\/h2>\n\n\n\n Once there\u2019s a staff of about five people or more, it\u2019s often helpful to have devotional moments as a staff. Ten ideas on how to do this well:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\nMake it short.<\/strong> One helpful, thoughtful idea is often better than delivering another full sermon.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n\nShare from the heart.<\/strong> It helps staff to feel and experience the heartbeat of a leader. Don\u2019t only share what sounds good, but what moves you personally.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n\nPray for each other.<\/strong> You\u2019re doing spiritual work. So pray for each other. <\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n\nUse think-pair-share to facilitate discussion.<\/strong> This approach asks a question and then gives people a few minutes to think<\/em> by themselves, then another handful of minutes to pair<\/em> up with another person to talk about it, before finally widening the circle and sharing<\/em> as a whole group. This helps people have more articulated thoughts and tends to help those less likely to speak up feel comfortable doing so.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n <\/noscript><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\nLeverage video teaching. <\/strong>Sometimes people need to hear the same ideas from somebody else (every parent knows this). Don\u2019t be afraid to watch a talk or sermon from a preacher you respect \u2014 if it\u2019s good, it can have a very positive impact.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n\nShare the moment.<\/strong> Devotional moments in staff are great moments to allow other staff who don\u2019t normally teach or preach to get a \u201crep\u201d having a leadership moment. <\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n\nShare personal testimonies.<\/strong> It\u2019s amazing how people who work together on a church staff may not even know how each other came to faith. Take some time to share personal stories of conversion.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n\nShare \u201cGod stories.\u201d<\/strong> Talk about how God is working among you in big or small ways. A great question to unearth these stories is, \u201cIf you had to prove God is alive based on something you\u2019ve experienced or heard recently, what would you point to?\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n\nPractice gratitude. <\/strong>Bring a stack of blank greeting cards to the meeting with a pile of pens. Take some time to write thank you notes to people in the church who especially model the kind of ministry you hope to do more. <\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n\nIncorporate music.<\/strong> It\u2019s wild how even somebody simply playing a guitar and singing can enhance the environment for prayer. Imagine you\u2019re in a living room with friends, singing some simple songs of worship and seeking the Lord together.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\nThe Church Staff Meeting \u201cSilver Bullet\u201d<\/h2>\n\n\n\n Everyone is always on the hunt for some \u201csilver bullet\u201d for handling staff structures and meetings. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Spoiler alert: There isn\u2019t one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There\u2019s not one right way to do this, and as soon as you find it, something will probably change and you\u2019ll have to adjust again. So, take the tools and ideas from this article and adapt them. Play around. Try stuff. Take an approach for a while and then tweak and adjust.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The key is that you intentionally and thoughtfully build into your staff team. Ministry is fun. But it\u2019s way more fun when you can do it together with a group of motivated, aligned leaders who are all heading in the same direction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/noscript><\/figure>\n\n\n\nIf you have specific questions that aren\u2019t covered in this guide, send me an email<\/a>. I\u2019d be happy to interact with you about them.<\/p>\n\n\n\nI also offer coaching for pastors who need help. If you\u2019d like a free introductory call to discuss your situation, you can schedule one here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\nI\u2019m rooting for you!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
P.S. While there are similarities between a church staff and an elder board, there are often some meaningful differences as well. Check out this guide<\/a> to having more effective elder meetings.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Cultivate a healthy culture, align, enrich spiritual health, & foster camaraderie through the right structure & focus.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2162,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
How to Have Great Church Staff Meetings | Faithful & Fruitful<\/title>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\t \n\t \n\t \n \n \n \n \n \n\t \n\t \n\t \n