Five Game-Changing Habits of Great Team Leaders
Help! I'm a Pastor, Not a CEO: 5 Ways to Build a Thriving Church Team
Let’s be honest—navigating church leadership these days can feel like trying to herd cats in a thunderstorm. Gone are the days when “this is how we’ve always done it” actually worked. In today’s world, you’re leading a team that spans Boomers to Gen Z, introverts to Enneagram 8s, and everything in between. Throw in a little church politics, a dash of team dynamics, and voilà!—you’ve got a recipe for stress.
And if you're anything like most pastors I know, you’re juggling roles like a circus performer: preacher, counselor, vision-caster, small group cheerleader, meeting scheduler, and—of course—coffee connoisseur. But at the core of all that? You’re a leader. And your church’s health rises and falls on your ability to lead your team well.
So how do you lead in a way that’s both effective and life-giving—for you and your team?
Let’s talk five practical, slightly-sweaty, totally doable ways to lead your church team into something that actually works.
1. Define the Win—Then Say It Out Loud
Every team needs direction, or else they’ll start guessing—and let’s face it, their guesses might involve things like "build a new cafe in the foyer" or "repaint the nursery... again." Clearly define roles, communicate your church’s mission and vision like a broken record, and give your team phrases to cling to like “This is where you shine” and “This is what matters most.”
Pro tip: If you're still secretly comparing your current worship leader to the one from 2013—it's time to stop. New season, new team. Lead them.
2. Make the Mission Stick
It’s not enough to have a mission and vision. You have to live it, breathe it, tweet it (okay maybe not that last one). Your team won’t run with what they don’t understand or believe in. And if your team’s not aligned, you’ll start seeing burnout, confusion, and people asking, “Wait… why are we doing this again?”
Spoiler: the problem might not be your team. It might be a communication gap.
3. Fix Your Meetings (Yes, Really)
Let’s call it what it is: most church staff meetings are a mix of calendar updates, last-minute planning, and coffee-fueled chaos. But if your meetings aren’t reinforcing the mission, vision, and values—what are they doing?
Be present. Be intentional. And please, talk about where you're going—not just what went wrong last Sunday.
4. Ask Better Questions, More Often
Want to build trust? Step out from behind your desk and start asking your team real questions like:
“Where do you need my help the most?”
“Where can I back off and let you lead?”
These two questions can change everything. Don’t wait until there's tension or burnout—connect early, often, and with empathy. You might be surprised at what opens up.
5. Grow Together, Not Just Alone
The best leaders aren’t the ones who pretend they have it all figured out—they’re the ones committed to growth. When your team sees you investing in your own leadership, they’re more likely to do the same.
Yes, you're busy. But spiritual and leadership development can’t be the first thing cut when the calendar gets tight. Make time for it. Model it. Your whole church will benefit.
🎯 Call to Action: Let’s Get Real About Leadership
So here’s the question: Are you leading your team, or just managing them?
What’s one small shift you can make this week to create a healthier, more empowering culture on your team?
👇 Drop your answer in the comments, or send this to a fellow leader who’s trying to navigate the chaos with courage and grace. Better yet, have this conversation at your next team meeting. Growth starts with real talk.
Because leading a church team is hard—but you don’t have to do it alone.
