Motivating Your Church Staff in the Midst of Discouragement

If you've held a church management position for any significant length of time, it's likely you've encountered the unique challenge of motivating a team member (or an entire team) that is discouraged, unmotivated, or checked out. 

Not too long ago, my team was in a similar predicament. The pandemic had taken its toll on us, there had been significant turnover within our close-knit staff, and the demands of church ministry had begun to drain us of energy. You could see the exhaustion etched onto our faces, and the overall mood was pretty bleak.  

But here's the beautiful part: my team had incredible leaders who recognized the situation and took decisive action. They saw the need for a shift in our team culture and overall motivation, and they made it happen.  

As a beneficiary of this impressive leadership, I want to share a few practical tips on how to motivate a discouraged team. These are not simply theoretical ideas; they are strategies that were tried and tested on my team, and they made a huge difference! And though every church staff is unique, I hope these tips can provide you with a general roadmap to help your team rise above discouragement and rediscover their motivation for ministry. 

Step #1: Work to Understand the Problem:

“If I had an hour to solve a problem, I’d spend 55 minutes thinking about the problem and 5 minutes thinking about solutions.” – Albert Einstein.

I always knew Albert Einstein was brilliant (he did invent modern electricity, after all!), and this quote truly cements his genius. Problem-solving is more than generating solutions; it’s about understanding the underlying cause of the problem. 

If you notice your church staff is feeling discouraged, resist the urge to jump straight into problem-solving mode. First, take time to engage in meaningful reconnaissance by connecting with your team on a personal level. Hold one-on-one meetings to learn more about the perspectives, challenges, and aspirations of the individual members of your team. Is conflict causing their discouragement? Are they facing difficulties at home? Have recent layoffs affected their morale? Is there a consistent reason for the collective discouragement, or are there a variety of issues rising to the surface?

Rather than making assumptions about the challenges my team was facing, my church leaders simply asked us. This was easily the most effective way for them to understand the problems and address them head-on. By taking a relational and comprehensive approach to identify the source of the problem, you can get one step closer to creating an effective solution that builds up and supports your team! 

Step #2: Press Pause on Productivity

"Relationships are the currency of leadership." - John C. Maxwell

I truly get it – ministry is always moving. Sunday is always coming, people are always in need of hope, and church leaders are always feeling the weight of responsibility to serve their church community well. In times of discouragement, however, it can - scratch that - it will be counterproductive to focus on productivity and performance metrics. If your church staff seems to be checked out or burnt out, press pause on productivity for a season and prioritize staff relationships. Give your team permission to joke around in the middle of the day, facilitate activities that promote camaraderie, fun, and collaboration, and lead by example! If your team always sees you rushing around to get work done instead of leaning in and truly engaging (or taking time to laugh with them about that funny church meme), they are not going to feel permission to prioritize their work relationships.

I am so grateful that my leaders chose to prioritize relationships and a lighthearted work environment when my church staff was facing discouragement. We didn’t shove our problems under the proverbial rug or get lazy with our ministry responsibilities, but we did build deeper friendships and started to love coming to work again! That was a huge win.

Step #3: Cast Vision (And Keep Doing It!) 

Where there is no vision, the people perish (Proverbs 29:14) 

In the midst of the busyness and challenges of church ministry, it can be easy for individuals to lose sight of their "why" – the fundamental reasons that compelled them to serve in the first place. As leaders, it is our responsibility to help people reconnect with their sense of purpose and remember why they do what they do.

You have likely cast vision for your team before, but keep doing it! Just as everyone on a ship needs to know the direction in which to cast the sails in order to move forward, individuals within a team also need a clear sense of direction to feel fulfilled and make progress. 

This is something my church leadership has done incredibly well. Instead of casting vision at the beginning of the year and then sending us off into the chaotic waters of ministry, they continually reminded our church staff of our corporate “why.” We are serving Jesus, we are serving His Church, and we are compelled by the vision to see our city transformed by the gospel. The consistent infusion of vision into our team meetings played a vital role in nurturing our team, even when morale was low. 

Step #4: Focus on the Individual 

The strength of the team is each individual member. The strength of each member is the team." - Phil Jackson

Just as a shared vision is vital for a cohesive church staff, it is equally crucial for church leaders to assist individual team members in cultivating their personal sense of purpose. It is important to remember that not everyone on your church staff will be motivated by the same goals. Each team member brings their own unique passions, talents, and aspirations to the table, and each team member has a unique, God-given calling. As a church leader, it is your responsibility to serve, support, and care for the people with which God has entrusted you!  

One simple and effective way to demonstrate your genuine care for your team members' unique strengths and callings is by investing time in their personal and career development, which can be facilitated through various personality tests and assessments. My team recently took the Working Genius assessment, and it served as an incredible foundation for discussions about our strengths, our roles, and our dreams for the future. Not only did it enhance our personal growth, but it also empowered us and motivated us to bring our best selves to work. 

Step #5: Celebrate the Small Wins

“Celebrate the small victories along the way to keep yourself motivated and inspired." - Michael Jordan

In the journey of motivating a discouraged team, it's important to acknowledge and celebrate progress, no matter how small! One tradition that my church team adopted during our season of discouragement was something called “good gossip.” At the end of each meeting, we began taking time to highlight people on our team who performed well that week. Over time, this tradition became an integral part of our team dynamic, and it truly did transform our attitudes and our culture. 

Whether it’s with heartfelt words of recognition, thoughtful handwritten notes, or meaningful team gatherings, remember to celebrate the small wins! Doing so will play a vital role in motivating and uplifting your team.

Practical Support for Your Team

Is your team feeling discouraged due to high workloads and disorganized systems? Don't underestimate the impact of practical solutions on the overall morale of your team! Breeze's church management system is specifically designed to alleviate the pressure and streamline your church's administrative tasks, allowing your team to focus on what truly matters. To learn more about Breeze’s helpful features, click here!