How do you make sure your team stays aligned with your mission and vision?
Chris Rivers’ job at NewSpring Church in South Carolina was to teach new staff NewSpring’s culture.
The challenge was they were adding up to ten new staff per WEEK. Chris explains how they did it, and what you need to do to keep your team aligned, whether you’re adding staff, adding volunteers or simply trying to align your existing team.
Welcome to Episode 37 of the Podcast.
Guest Links: Chris Rivers
Links Mentioned in this Episode
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3 Things You Can Do Right Away
Chris says that culture is what your environment says you value, and the art of culture is saturating your environment with your vision. Culture is the litmus test for your vision, mission and strategy, and in this episode, Chris tells us how to ensure those values align with your ministry.
- Define your cultural filters. New employees need to know a few key things when they become part of your team – Who you are, what they are responsible for and a leadership principal paramount to your ministry. Those are filters that say, “This is important, and if you’re new, this is what we want you to know.” During the first 90 days, it’s critical to repeat the process so that your culture is instilled into the employee’s routine. It gives them an understanding of what you’re about and gives them clarity to what they’re supposed to be doing.
- Introduce systems that reinforce culture. Know what it is that you want for someone new to your team. When you focus on the process, that’s the starting point for creating an irresistible environment. One of the biggest challenges is getting people to embrace systems, and most of the time, leaders don’t focus on that enough. Have conversations about how you’re keeping things central, and identify the leader who’s holding others accountable for how you’re conquering ministry as a team.
- Celebrate and evaluate. Many times when people come into a church, they need to be equipped to be part of the mission God has called them to do. If you look back at the disciples, none of them had a resume. They just had a willingness. They potential we have in Christ, plus the willingness to do whatever it takes, changes everything. There are a couple ways to do that:
a.) Focus on people. You’re working hard to accomplish vision and mission, but you can’t recall the last time you celebrated as a leader and thanked your team. When was the last time you celebrated what God was doing in your ministry.
b.) Focus on the evaluating process. Evaluate what’s working and if there’s a room for improvement or a chance to change. Ask, “Are your systems working, and is this something we can do better?”
Quotes from Chris
You have a culture whether you want to have one or not. @cnieuwhof Click To Tweet Your culture either hurts you or helps you accomplish your mission. @cnieuwhof Click To Tweet CNLP 037: Creating an Incredible Team Culture—An Interview with Chris Rivers Click To Tweet CNLP 037: Creating an Incredible Team Culture—An Interview with Chris Rivers Click To Tweet CNLP 037: Creating an Incredible Team Culture—An Interview with Chris Rivers Click To TweetA New Episode Every Week…Just Subscribe
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Next Episode: Jared Brock
It’s no secret, the prayer life of many church leaders leaves much to be desired.
Jared Brock, a ministry leader in his 20s, was no exception. So he set off on a 37,000 mile trip around the world to discover prayer in all it’s forms. Here’s what he learned, and how it can help you.
Subscribe for free now, and you won’t miss Episode 38.