The word ministry means to serve.
You can add the word ministry to leadership, teams, and other concepts, but at the root, church “ministry” roles are about serving.
If you live in the world of ministry, you understand even more the unique nature of helping to build morale among this group.
- It begins with you.
- It extends out to others with whom you serve.
- It spills over the whole organization.
On any given day, morale can be affected by outside sources – from the structure of your organization to the various cultural aspects. The good news is that leaders have the greatest affect on the team’s morale.
How are you leading in terms of morale?
Almost every pastor is leading a group – either paid or volunteer – and must always be thinking about the morale of the people in that group.
Each church staff member is leading a group of paid or volunteer ministry leaders who also need to understand the power that great morale can bring.
Your day-to-day actions are critical to great morale. What might some of those aspects of great morale be? I’ll brainstorm here, but the list is endless:
- Care Questions – Ask about trips, family situations, or a social media post.
- Acknowledgment – Notice what others do – that can be one of the best rewards.
- Praise – Send compliments you receive to your team members.
- Fun – Add balance to all the work with something fun.
- Resources – Do your best to provide what is needed to get the job done.
- Access To You – Give your team members access to you – Return calls and texts, etc.
- Community – Smile, talk, text a joke or link, visit before and after ministry projects, etc.
- Prayers For Your Team – Pray for your team to be filled with God’s spirit and for morale to stay high.
Good morale leads to success. Success leads to better morale.
I’m praying for you as you continue to serve in ministry – Keep up the great work!
(The book, Common Sense Leadership by Roger Fulton, p.82, was a springboard for this post.)
