Staff Meeting Changes
I’m always thinking about re-structuring our staff leadership, but have been slow to move. But, it was becoming apparent with growth, we had to make a change in our weekly staff meeting. What worked great with 4 (or even 7-8) people, became cumbersome with 13 ministry staff around the table. Decisions get made differently and you could spend an hour just getting updates by going around the table.
I also felt like there was a growing disconnect between that ministry staff and the 6 office support staff we have, who have had their own staff meetings, but never been in on ministry staff meetings.
So, we are experimenting. Our new structure simplifies: Once a month (first Tuesday) we have an all staff meeting including support staff and once a month (third Tuesday) we have a ministry staff meeting. Here’s the immediate benefits:
1. Fewer meetings. Who doesn’t love that?
2. Meetings that have a more defined focus, including at the spiritual level and team values level. I’ll post later on this.
3. Higher expectations, especially in the ministry staff meeting in these areas: Preparation: if you are unprepared, it will be a month (not a week) before you get a chance to present it again. Accountability: It’s hard to track progress week to week on ministry areas, but we should see progress month to month. Outside collaboration: It is now obvious that staff meetings are only for discussion of topics that affect ALL staff. This pushes conversations that really only affected part of the staff out of the staff meeting and into other more focused meetings.
.Real.Greg.Lee. 
Hi Greg, I do enjoy reading the Unique Chairs~and I think you will be amazed at the productivity that will come out of the staff meetings where support staff are included!! Bravo! Keeping you all in my prayers.
Martha