Over the years I’ve had the opportunity to hire a lot of people. Student Ministry Pastors, Campus Pastors, Children’s Pastors, Worship Pastors, Executive level roles and Administrative roles. I’ve run the searches myself and used an Executive Search Firm. I’ve even had the opportunity as a consultant to help other churches find their right next hire. Hire the right person and the whole team benefits. When you invite the right person to join your team not only is there is an infusion of new talent, but also new ideas, fresh eyes, and a new well of experiences to go to. One new hire can make the entire team better. On the other hand, hire the wrong person and you can pay a price you weren’t prepared to pay. While at first pass this post may come off as negative, the goal I can assure you, is to be helpful. I’ve had to say no to more people than I’ve said yes to. My hope is that this post will help move you in the direction where you’d hear me, or someone else, say yes to you in the near future.
1. Attitude
Your attitude is more valuable than your aptitude. You can learn skills, and talent can be developed, but attitude is one of those things you either have or you don’t. I want you to come in and help make the team better, and a bad attitude or critical spirit never makes the team better.
2. Track Record
I’m not all that impressed by big talkers. Sales pitches usually don’t work on me. So don’t try and impress me and sell me on what you’re going to do. Show me what you’ve done. And while it doesn’t necessarily need to be “big,” it does needs to have been done well and there needs to be a track record of progressive responsibility. Over and over and over again…all throughout the Bible when people who have been faithful with the little they’re given, they are then are given an opportunity to be faithful with more.
3. Creative Problem Solving
Please don’t think that when you finally arrive in a large church that you’ll finally have the resources you wish you had in a smaller church you were serving in. Like a lot of things, resource challenges often scale. You need to have a proven track record of resourcefulness. Instead of being frustrated at resource challenges or other potential issues learn to live on the solution side of every problem. Develop an eye for opportunity and improvement not a critical spirit that tears people and ministries down.
4. High E.Q.
You’ve got to demonstrate a high level of emotional intelligence if you’re going to be very successful in ministry over the long haul. Relationships are both the glue and the grease that make work happen in the workplace. And at the end of the day if you don’t like to and don’t want to be around people, you’re going to have a pretty tough time in local church ministry.
5. I Actually Like You
This may seem like the shallowest one on the list, but it may just be the most important factor in any hire. The reason why is chemistry and culture. While I’m not paying you to be my friend, friendship is an incredibly high value on my team. You see if I can’t picture you getting along with the team and me, if I can’t picture hanging out with you, if you don’t have a similar DNA to the team your joining then chances are you don’t belong on the team.
Photo Credit: Jeffrey Simms Photography via Compfight cc
