How to Build Healthy Staff Relationships

Written by Barry Campbell

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Staff relationships are rewarding. They can also be frustrating. Attending to relationships can make all the difference. Answering the following questions can help a minister determine if he is attending to staff relationships.

Philosophy:

• How do I view others’ ministries in light of my own call from God?
• Do I operate from a shared or a solo ministry philosophy?
• Do I view other ministers as associates or assistants?
• Do I view members of the office and janitorial staff as vital elements of the work and life of the church, or do I view them as second-class citizens?

Authority:

• Which management style dominates my leading of other ministers?
• Do I direct or dictate, coach or command?
• Do I have a top-down, autocratic management style or a negotiating style?
• How do I respond to the those who comment on my work?
• Are constructive critiques of ministry performance well received?

Success:

• How do I deal with the popularity or success of another minister? 

Equitable Compensation:

• Are staff compensation packages an issue of concern?
• Do I have negative attitudes concerning the income of other ministers?
• Do those attitudes adversely affect relationships with certain staff members?

Communication:

• Is the staff climate conducive to open and honest communication?
• Are any of these negative styles evident in my communication—placating, blaming, computing, or distracting?
• Trust: Can we trust one another with confidential matters? 

Turf:

• Are areas of ministry off limits to certain staff members?
• Do I consider any area of my work my personal territory? 

Support:

• Do the members of our ministry team support one another?
• Do we stand together when risks are taken and conflict occurs?

If these questions offer any warning signs, take these 8 steps to improve staff relationships.

1. Start with a clear understanding of expectations, roles, and responsibilities.
    
2. Provide the opportunity for all staff members to take a personality profile.
    
3. When beginning a new relationship, anticipate difficulties and allow for a period of adjustment.
    
4. Establish a periodic review schedule to discuss perceptions of ministry and performance.
    
5. Plan for fellowship.
    
6. Be a Barnabas; encourage your staff.
    
7. Pray for and with other staff members.
    
8. When a minister moves to serve on another church field, seek to maintain the relationship.

The rewards of building strong and healthy staff relationships are worth the efforts. Good staff relationships permeate the entire body. They model good relationships for the congregation and provide meaningful, lifetime friendships.

Adapted from A. Perry Hancock, “Building Healthy Staff Relations,” The Theological Educator, Fall 1996, 33–39.

Barry Campbell is the Director for the Eastern Region of LifeWay's Church Relations and Consulting Department. He was a pastor for 20 years before coming to LifeWay and continues to serve churches through Interim Pastorates.