One of the seminar sessions I often present is called “The Care and Feeding of Your Staff.” The idea is not to treat the great people who are part of your team as if they are pets or animals. The thought is that those in leadership should have the best interests at heart for the ones the Lord has given them for ministry. You should care for them, encourage them, and support them.

I recently saw some statistics about U.S. workers. It’s pretty revealing information about corporate America and might offer insights we can learn from in our leadership roles.

  • 79% of employees will quit their jobs due to a lack of appreciation from leaders
  • 83% of employers agree that it’s crucial to develop their employees’ skills, but only 5% of corporations actually implement these improvements
  • Only 14% of CEOs have the leadership talent they need to grow their businesses
  • 15% of candidates state they turned down job offers due to a negative work culture
  • 70% of employees in the US are unhappy in their jobs due to negative management

21+ Inspiring Leadership Statistics [2020 Edition]

Not a pretty picture. I wonder what the statistics would look like for Christian ministries and organizations. Would it be much different?

God’s Word is clear about giving appropriate compensation for those who work.

For the Scripture says, “You must not muzzle an ox to keep it from eating as it treads out the grain.” And in another place, “Those who work deserve their pay!” 1 Timothy 5:18 NLT

Eugene Peterson has a unique perspective on this verse. In The Message, he looks at verse 17 and starts out with this: “Give a bonus to leaders who do a good job, especially the ones who work hard at preaching and teaching.”

Dr. Gary Chapman has written a whole book on how to show appreciation to our employees—and it is also true for volunteers who serve in our ministries and organizations. He bases the book on applying his classic “Five Love Languages” to the environment and relationships in the workplace. The premise remains the same. Not everyone has the same “love” language or “appreciation” language. But when we can communicate our appreciation in the right language it will have a dramatic effect on those who serve with us. The author says that by doing so, you can expect great results. The principles taught in the book will help you lead your team and show your genuine care for those entrusted to you by the Lord.

One blogger shared this insight about the book:

“Our motivation is maximized when we receive our ideal form of praise, encouragement, or reward for our efforts. Since it is the job of a manager, leader, or boss to not only keep the company or department running but also to keep up a happy workforce, understanding what makes individuals tick is crucial for helping the bottom line.”

-15five blog

A good exercise could be to spend thirty minutes at the start of this week writing down ways you can genuinely show appreciation to your team, both as a group and individually. Challenging? Yes. But it’s worth the time spent caring for and serving your team.

God’s best,