There are some practical steps that you can take that will strengthen you ministry to your staff. One of the first steps is to recognize that they are all individuals. This may seem obvious, but it is easy to fall into treating them as a a group. Individuals have different needs, gifts, anxieties, and personalities. It does require some time to get to know them, but it is worth the effort.
A first step may be to form a small staff biography on a computer program that contains such basic data as birthday, date of employment, spouse’s name and birthday, children’s names and birthday, etc. A couple of sentences about significant characteristics of family members — employment, year in school, interests in sports, arts, etc. will pay off down the road. Then put in some trigger dates in your computer about each staff member and family member so that it pops up a few days in advance.
A second step would be to write a brief description of your early impressions of each staff member with respect to gifts, challenges, personality quirks, etc. Over time, if these change, it will be of value to recognize how your impressions have changed. Since positive reinforcement is a powerful motivator. these early bench marks will assist you in commenting on improvements as they occur.
Taking a member of your staff out to lunch once a year, can reinforce your effort to treat them as individuals. It also provides an opportunity to listen to challenges both at work and in their personal life that they may want to share. Sometimes you may learn of extended family pressures that may affect their work, and your understanding these pressures will help in your being sensitive to their situations.
Asking your session or budget committee to set aside some funds for such activities may also educate the governing board of the importance of this part of your ministry.
