Rough roads are tough on any vehicle. They jar, bounce and stress the machine and driver, often knocking things out of alignment. When wheels, tires, steering, shocks and struts are out of alignment it increases wear, affects performance, decreases the driving experience and diminishes the enjoyment of cruising down the road.
More importantly, if left alone, it will eventually lead to costly repairs … even a crash!
Covid has been a long, rough journey. Just like a vehicle that’s been driven over potholes, speed bumps and washboard laden roads, this past season has knocked our staffs’ clarity and confidence out of alignment.
As we begin to re-engage in whatever normal is going forward, our staff team is likely in need of realignment and repair. This is not just with their roles and responsibilities at work. Home, family, community and every other aspect of life has been affected.
Misalignment undermines staff health, diminishes engagement and decreases impact. It can also derail investment and generosity. Ultimately it can lead to costly repairs like staff transitions due to frustration and burnout.
How do we get realigned?
Step 1—Recast the Vision
It is essential to recast the overall vision and mission to the entire team. Celebrate some of the unexpected wins your team has experienced through Covid. This might include:
- Online church
- Community engagement
- Faithfulness in generosity
- How your church was blessed during the Covid season
- How God moved to create new opportunities and uncover new gifts and talents
Isaiah 43:19 says, See I am doing a new thing, now it springs up, do you not perceive it?
As a visionary leader, you likely see further down the road than many on your team. That’s actually your job! For some, it may take a while, some may never see it at all! And that’s okay. However, the church staff needs to understand and embrace their specific contribution.
In Nehemiah 4, Nehemiah embraced the entire vision of a rebuilt Jerusalem and walked around the wall daily seeing great progress. Ultimately the wall was four miles long, 15 feet thick and 20 feet high.
But the wall was only half done. The people were discouraged and the strength of the team was giving out. Why? Because they only saw a pile of mud in front of them. They saw their dirty, blistered hands and that one little brick they were using. Nehemiah pulled them together and helped them understand how each brick contributes to the overall project.
Step 2—Align Job Descriptions with Current Roles
Each manager or leader should have a conversation with their direct reports to realign job descriptions with current roles and responsibilities. As with any good mechanic, you want to inspect prior to making any repairs.
For many on our teams, their day-to-day work may have changed a little or a lot. Walk through their job description and their new or modified responsibilities. Update the job description to provide greater clarity and direction. Help them see how their role contributes to the mission.
If they don’t have a current job description, build one that aligns with your desired cultural values, behaviors and the outcomes you expect them to deliver.
Step 3—Have a Professional Development Conversation
Once the job description is updated, have a professional development conversation. Here are some starter questions to consider:
- Which of your strengths are underutilized in your current role?
- Which part(s) of your role do you enjoy most?
- Which current career priorities and goals most excite you?
- How do you think this job aligns with your talents, gifts and experience?
- What barriers or hurdles exist to achieving your professional goals?
- Are there any learning opportunities that you would like to participate in?
- What new or improved skills would help you be more effective in your role?
Once the staff is realigned and re-engaged:
- Ministry effectiveness and impact will increase.
- Ministry impact, when well-celebrated and communicated to the church family, inspires confidence.
- Impact and confidence inspire generosity!
Tools
Every great mechanic has made a significant investment to fill their toolbox with the things they need to keep things running smoothly. Here are some of your tools:
- Recast the vision
- Celebrate the wins
- Clarify individual roles
- Create a development plan
- Communicate impact
- Experience generosity
Alignment is not a one and done activity. It requires constant attention and adjustment. But the benefits are significant. Your staff will be motivated, your congregation will be fully engaged, and your community will be transformed by the power of a church on mission.
Your personnel budget is a huge investment your church makes, usually between 45% and 55% of your total budget. We would never build a building without an architect. We would never own or manage a church building without a budget for maintenance and capital improvements. Do you have a plan in place for your staff realignment?
As we move through 2021, invest in realigning our staff teams and our churches around God’s priorities to serve His purposes for His glory.
This article is from Jon’s Culture Camp—a journey to define culture, establish measurable goals, expect realistic accountability, experience consistent innovation, execute processes and implementation, and create sustainable leadership development.
