I've never been a fan of disciplinary action processes. You know, the process a manager or supervisor is supposed to go through with an employee who is doing something they shouldn't or not doing something they should. It's not that I don't believe we should address performance problems; it's just that I think the point is not to discipline the person. You know, like giving your 3-year-old a "timeout" because they … [Read more...]
Difficult Decisions
Three Things To Remember When Making And Implementing Difficult Decisions
I've been doing this leadership thing for as long as I can remember. I've discovered how making and implementing difficult decisions is one of the hardest and most painful things we do. Whether it's church discipline, trying to help people experiencing financial hardship, or identifying and addressing unacceptable behavior, making and implementing difficult decisions is "difficult" and not much fun. It's just … [Read more...]
Performance-Based Compensation For Pastors
Is Compensating Pastors For "Good Performance" A Good Thing?
So, a senior pastor successfully grows their congregation by 20% this year and is rewarded with a bonus based on some predetermined set of parameters related to growth. Good for the pastor ... good for the church ... good for the kingdom? A campus pastor is successful in getting a campus launched ahead of schedule and under budget. The church compensates the pastor to reward good performance. This is a good thing. … [Read more...]
Never Make A “Rule” You’re Not Prepared To Enforce
Another Important Practice When It Comes To Great Leadership
One mistake I see many leaders make is in the area of making "rules." What is a rule, really? When I was in corporate, the Human Resources Manual or Employee Handbook, depending on the organization, always had a list of "Major Work Rules." If an employee broke one of those rules, they would be facing "corrective action up to and including termination." The good news is, most of the time, these work rules were … [Read more...]