2. Module: Giving Feedback

Ministry vision statement

  • We want every member of Coast EC to faithfully use their gifts & abilities to the best of their ability for the good of others and the glory of God.

Q: How can we equip and train our team members so our ministries are excellent?

The poo sandwich...we've all been there

  • 2 nice, 1 bad, 1 nice - but all we hear is the 1 bad

  • Avoid the poo sandwich 

1. Need to create a culture and context

  • Eg Staff Team

  • Weekly meetings (Monday Mop-Up –> feedback! 

  • Lots of little bits of regular encouragement 

  • This also provides a good context for constructive criticism

  • We do it so often that it’s normal; and we all want to grow; and want to help e/o grow.

  • Gives an opportunity for them to receive feedback from me as team leaders - and also to give me feedback (and model receiving well)

  • Look for patterns – e.g. specific data from 3 sermons ("too long") - so it wasn't just a one-off / off their game thing

  • Quarterly meetings - a context for big feedback (monthly / quarterly)

2. Clarity (Training)

  • They need to be clear about the purpose of the ministry and what ‘good’ looks like

  • They need clear expectations re: their role, responsibilities etc

  • Q: Do your team members have clarity?

  • Have you clearly walked through this with both new and existing team members?

  • Could you ask someone else on the team to ‘on board’ a new member and be confident they’d nail it?

3. Encouragement / Praise

a) 1:1 

  • on the day Catch them doing the right thing – high fi

  • mid-week – text 

  • You can’t do too much of this

  • People will repeat what they are praised for

b) in the team

  • group chat – shout outs

  • team meetings - People will do what’s celebrated

  • This generous positive feedback builds up team members; builds team culture and provides a good context for any corrective feedback.

3. Corrective Feedback

a) Pastoral

  • they may have dropped the ball b/c had a heavy week – you ok?

  • Pick your time to give it – eg not on the night! 

b) Practical (competencies)

  • Give them first shot at themselves

  • do they know / have they been trained?

  • can they do it? is it beyond their skillset?

4. Leadership

  • Own the ministry vision statement - this is about making disciples!

  • Own the leadership Position - badge and gun