If you’re leading a church today, there is a great chance that you are very passionate about bringing people into a closer relationship with God and each other. There is nothing like the experience of being instrumental in introducing others to Christ and creating an organization where relationships can thrive and people can continue to learn and grow.  It’s exciting when you are focused on the core mission of reaching others and building the kingdom. 

Unfortunately, many church leaders find themselves in a tug-of-war between that passion for reaching others and the challenges of building an organization and structure that can support growth. Are you interested in creating an organization with the ability to hire, engage, motivate and retain top talent?

So many of the structural requirements of a thriving church are similar to those you would find in a well-run business. That’s not to say that the church should operate as a business, but it should use some of the same effective practices when it comes to the way that it operates and executes the mission. 

When it comes to the behind-the-scenes organizational elements, healthy churches routinely focus on:

• Growth and stability
• Goal setting and planning
• Member / Visitor service and experience
• Staffing, organizational and employee issues
• Managing employee performance
• Expectations on leadership / leadership development
• Strength in teams and collaboration
• Operational and organizational development
• Marketing and branding
• Financial acumen and wise stewardship of resources

Many church leaders struggle to address these things effectively. Maybe you find that you face a lack of structure. Or perhaps you hesitate to create structure out of fear that it will lead to bureaucracy. The result is disorganization, inefficiency, and staff (including leadership) being stretched too thin. Unfortunately, one of the most common reasons that people leave the church is due to unmet expectations of leadership and that can easily happen when there’s a lack of organization. The passion for worship and teaching can be overshadowed by process- and practice-related issues. 

A supporting structure can strengthen the relationships within your team, fueling your mission rather than stifling it. There is freedom in structure.

HR Strategies Now provides strategic but pragmatic Human Resources consulting services for churches, non-profit organizations and small businesses that lead to greater efficiency, effectiveness, and alignment. It’s about creating an organization with the power to attract, engage, motivate and retain top talent who can move your church’s mission forward. Passion may drive an organization but execution is what makes it effective.