Avoiding Staff Bloopers

What can a staff member do wrong?

After 25 years of either leading staff or serving as a staff member, I scrawled a list of every staff ouch and hiccup I had witnessed in church life.

I came up with 20 staff blunders that I’ve witnessed.

Then I reviewed all 20 asking myself, “What principle would a staff member need to keep in mind to avoid this problem?” That flipped 20 negatives into 20 positives for staff to do.

The list of 20 were boiled down to 4 indispensable characteristics of a good team player. Here they are. Think on them, expand them, apply them and share them with your team.

Avoiding Staff Bloopers

by Phil McCallum

Read on to discover the 4 marks of a good staff member

A staff member is like a template that is duplicated over and over again in the lives of others in the church, so the heart needs to be one worthy of duplication.

I have a godly character that God wants reproduced in the lives of others.

I journal/devotions at least 4 times a week.

I have an accountability partner who won’t let me off the hook.

I tithe.

I use a planner and a ‘to do’ list

I honor others by being on time.

I take a weekly Sabbath day to worship God and I take one weekend off from serving every seventh week.

A staff member is a team builder, not just doing tasks but equipping teams of people to do what they are designed by God to do.

Here are some signs of TEAM:

I know God called me to this church and the our values are my values.

I like this leader and I like this team, really!

I’m not here to get tasks done but to equip others for success and to build teams.

I process disagreement and disappointment well.

I submit my rights and authority to flourish under the covering of leadership and to compliment a team.

A staff member has a submissive heart, open to learn, seeking out new ideas, willing to share with others.

I am a life-learner humble enough to ask, read, listen, and travel for answers.

I am willing to be led by others.

I write down monthly goals for my ministry.

I want to be accountable for my goals and welcome questions to make my ministry better.

I am open to play wherever I fit best on the team.

A staff member takes ownership and is reliable even if sometimes it means showing up early, staying up late and doing more than what is expected.

I do my ministry as if I owned the place, “if it is to be it is up to me”.

I don’t just point out problems I come up with solutions.

I take risks for greater rewards.