Thanksgiving is right around the corner and we’ll soon be dozing on the couch watching football after a big Thanksgiving meal (hey, it’s tradition).
This is also the time of year when we focus on giving thanks. Your church staff is in the trenches with you year-round. They lead worship, record the offerings, schedule your appointments, minister to teens, organize small groups and much more.
This one is the easiest and yet so powerful. As you prepare for the next staff meeting, think about your team and what they mean to you. Have they supported you through a rough time at your church? Do they consistently have a great attitude and are willing to serve? Tell them – and express how valuable those qualities are to you. If you want to go the extra mile here, praise your team in front of the congregation.
Handwritten thank you notes are rare, but that makes them more memorable. Take 5-10 minutes each day for the next few weeks and write notes to tell individual team members what you appreciate about them. Don’t be surprised when you see your note in their office months later. Those notes encourage people long after the ink is dry.
You don’t need to give extravagant gifts to show your team how much you appreciate them. Instead, how about giving them an extra day off around the holidays? Cater in a lunch (without your assistant’s help!) or go out to a movie as a team. Find out what they would enjoy most and go with that option.
Working at a church requires a special skill-set and heart. Ministry is messy and most people in your church don’t realize what it takes to make services happen successfully each week. Your team is probably willing to serve without many pats on the back, but that doesn’t mean they don’t need encouragement.
Especially as you’re preparing for Christmas services and special events, let your team know that you value their hard work and talent. When a respected leader expresses gratitude and offers encouragement, it’s a big deal to a team member. That’s a gift you can give your team that will bear much fruit in their lives and in your church.
How do you express your appreciation for your team?