Engaging with 'Dodgers' in Church Ministry
When dealing with difficult people in ministry settings, we often focus on the loud, domineering personalities. However, there exists a different type of challenge – the 'Dodger.'
Understanding the Dodger
A Dodger keeps their thoughts and feelings to themselves, usually refraining from active participation in group discussions. This behavior can surface in church staff meetings, small groups, or any collective interaction setting. Dodgers can be shy, insecure, indifferent, or just prefer quiet absorption over active participation.
While it's easy to sideline such individuals, they can miss out on the benefits and blessings of being part of the community. For a healthy church staff environment, we need to include and value every individual.
Tips for Engaging with Dodgers
Handling Dodgers requires a delicate, respectful, and encouraging approach. Here are strategies for successful engagement.
1. Give Them Space
Allowing Dodgers their comfort zone is crucial. Recognize their pace and personality, providing opportunities to contribute without forcing participation or creating pressure.
2. Build One-on-One Connections
Establishing a rapport with Dodgers outside of group settings can go a long way. Casual coffee chats or lunches can provide a comfortable platform for them to express themselves. This one-on-one interaction also shows you value their presence and are interested in their perspectives.
3. Encourage Gradually
Gradual encouragement, starting with simple, non-personal questions about their hobbies or opinions, can make a big difference. Over time, they may feel more comfortable sharing in group settings.
Handling Difficult People: An Ongoing Process
Engaging with different personality types, including Dodgers, requires patience and intentional effort. Ensuring everyone in the church staff feels safe, included, and valuable helps in fostering healthy group dynamics and a thriving ministry.
Church staff leaders can gain further insights into this topic by tuning into today's Healthy Church Staff Podcast episode. This episode continues our series on handling difficult people in ministry, focusing on the 'Dodgers.'
In conclusion, managing difficult people, be they dominators or Dodgers, is part of maintaining a healthy church staff. The key lies in understanding, patience, and strategic engagement, which can transform the dynamics of your ministry team. By implementing the strategies mentioned above, you can create an environment where Dodgers feel valued, included, and encouraged to contribute. Remember, handling difficult people is an ongoing process, requiring consistent effort and understanding.
As church staff leaders, it is our responsibility to foster healthy group dynamics, ensuring that everyone feels safe and respected. By engaging with different personality types, including Dodgers, we can create a more inclusive and thriving ministry environment.
If you want to delve deeper into this topic and gain more insights, I encourage you to listen to the latest episode of the Healthy Church Staff Podcast. In this episode, titled "Engaging with Dodgers in Church Ministry," host Todd Rhodes expands on the strategies discussed in this blog post. To listen, simply click here.
Remember, handling difficult people is a part of every church staff's journey. By embracing the diversity of personalities and engaging intentionally with Dodgers, we can create a more fulfilling and harmonious ministry team.
