Effective Church Communications

Effective Church Communications provides Timeless Strategy and Biblical Inspiration to help churches create communications that fully fulfill the Great Commission

Effective Church Communications provides Timeless Strategy and a Biblical Perspective to help churches create communications that fully fulfill the Great Commission. Our tools constantly change; our task doesn’t; we can help.

When the holidays or anytime doesn’t go as expected–tips on how to grow through conflict

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Things don't always go as we want in the church office at Christmas or any other time--here are some tips to help.
Things don't always go as we want in the church office at Christmas or any other time--here are some tips to help.

Ed. note: We all dream of what the holidays should be--everything perfect and peace and love all around. But if we are working at a church, we also know things don't always go as planned. When this happens, Gayle's advice that follows will, as it always does, encourage and equip you to handle the conflict well in your service for the Lord.

Growing involves having experiences—most pleasant, some not. Positive lessons can be learned even by negative encounters. Here is one assistant’s account of how she grew through adversity. [Read more...]

Church Office tips for sanity and joy as you prepare for the holidays

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Christmas Tree, keep it a season for joy
Thought there is always so much to do, here are some tips to help you keep your sanity and joy.

Can it be possible that Christmas and the holidays related to it are just around the proverbial corner?

Many church office professionals say this season has a way of sneaking up on them. It isn’t a matter of not knowing the dates— it is just that before we feel ready the celebrations are here. At both church and home there are more activities to plan, more projects to do, more pressure, more hurry. Too often what should be a joyful time becomes one of stress and frustration.

This year can be different. Really. You may not be able to change what goes on around you, but you can change your responses and you can control your own expectations and activities. A caveat: The answer is not to move everything up a few weeks. As a friend remarked, “At our church all the Christmas programs and parties are over by the first of December. The 25th doesn’t seem like the day at all.”

Ideas for keeping spirits bright— [Read more...]

How to develop management skills, part two

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Leading people is the most important part of your job.
Of course you manage work, but the most important part of your job is to lead people.

Ed. note: CLICK HERE for the first part of this very helpful and instructional article from Gayle Hilligoss.

• Be a role model. Ultimately the supervisor’s task is not to manage work but to lead people. Earn credibility by setting a good example for your team. Few things are more destructive to the morale of the team than a manager who lacks personal commitment. Those who expect a pleasant working environment, quality results, professional respect, and dedication to ministry must lead the way. [Read more...]

How to develop management skills, part one

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Managing well in the church office
Harmony in leadership is one of the skills you'll learn from this article.

Management skills enhance every ministry assistant’s professionalism. Whether supervising employees or volunteers, knowing how to develop and motivate excellent workers increases your effectiveness—and your value to the office team.

The best managers strive to work in harmony with others while still fulfilling their leadership role. This is a skill worth working on.

• Identify goals. An important part of the supervisory job is to determine what needs to be done and who will do it. Be specific. If your purpose is to free up your own time, use your calendar to clear your agenda of jobs others can do.

As you outline tasks, be sure the boundaries of authority are clear. Avoid having responsibilities overlap. Take adequate time with this first step; it is the foundation for successful management. [Read more...]

How to overcome procrastination in the church office

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How to overcome procrastination
When we procrastinate, we are our own worst enemy--here's how to overcome it.

Ed. note: going into the fall, it's easy to justify procrastination when we really need to be more disciplined. Gayle has some great tips for how to overcome it.

To procrastinate, says Webster, is to “postpone or delay needlessly.” It is not having too much to do and too little time to do it. Instead, procrastination is the practice of simply putting things off. Nearly always the task is eventually done, usually at the last minute—not a satisfying work style.

What makes us procrastinate and how can we avoid or overcome this troublesome habit? [Read more...]