First Hires in Church Planting: Mistakes to Avoid for a Healthy Church Staff

Starting a church presents fresh opportunities and daunting challenges, particularly when it comes to your early staffing decisions. These first hires set the tone and foundation of your church. The stakes run high — these early hires impact your church's DNA, shaping the culture, communication methods, problem-solving mechanisms, and more. In this exploration, we address why first hires are pivotal, highlight common mistakes to avoid, and underscore the importance of making these decisions wisely and strategically.

Power & Perils of First Hires

Church staff are responsible not just for ministry but also for the role's undertones, influencing everything from the team's communication styles to interactions amongst themselves and the church members. Sometimes, urgent need propels churches to quick hiring decisions, potentially leading to undue influence or unmet expectations. The looming urgency often arises from the complexity and volume of tasks that are integral to church planting.

However, hiring hastily — or out of desperation— can compound ambiguity and sow seeds of confusion that may take years to rectify. Therefore, early staffing decisions warrant due consideration because you're hiring for tone, trust, and long-term trajectory.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Church planters, particularly those in their early phases, often fall prey to several common mistakes. - Prioritizing Friendship over Function: Ensuring the person is the right fit for the role is crucial. - Precipitating the Hiring Process: Certain roles require a clear and detailed job description before initiating the hiring process. - Choosing Loyalty over Competency: While loyalty is commendable, competence should never be compromised. - Letting Urgency Rush the Process: Planting a church is a demanding role, and it's natural to long for relief. However, giving in to urgency and rushing the hiring process can create more problems in the long run.

Every new hire introduces a different level of complexity. It's essential to have clarity to prevent chaos from erupting.

What to do Instead

Here are the recommended steps to make more informed and proactive hiring decisions:

• Slow Down: Take time to define the roles and desired outcomes clearly. Involve multiple perspectives to avoid bias and ensure a thorough examination.
• Staff for the Future: Target hires that will fit your vision for the future, not just the current circumstances. Hire those with the potential and drive to grow with your church.
• Prioritize Character and Cultural Alignment: Don't sacrifice long-term success for quick fixes. Prioritize the character and cultural alignment of potential hires over immediate relief.

Note: Hiring staff is easier when done slowly. Rectifying the organizational dysfunction that results from misaligned hires is much more complex.

First hires in church planting have a tremendous impact on the church and pave the path for its trajectory. Therefore, it is essential not to let the vibrancy and momentum of the early days get undermined by rushed or misaligned hiring decisions. Considering these hiring insights and avoiding common pitfalls could pave the way for significant church growth. For deeper insights into making those crucial first hires, tune in to today's Healthy Church Staff Podcast episode. Benefit from these shared experiences, take time to learn from others and build a thriving, healthy church staff.