Don’t let familiarity rob your staff of proper office etiquette. I recently heard of a staff that has become so juvenile in their communication that it has actually hindered their work ethic and has damaged their reputations. Their course jesting has become vile - something that is more akin to what you would hear on a construction site not in a ministry office. Proverbs says, ”Seldom set foot in your neighbors house, to much of you and they will despise you.” This principle teaches that familiarity breeds contempt.

Don’t allow casual communication through email. We’ve lost the art of protocol in email. In my second church plant, I traveled full time while I was starting the church. One of the effective tools that we used to communicate with staff and members was email; however, it became one of the most destructive tools for the enemy. I had a few minor situations turn into horrific events simply because of email. People will say things through email that they would never say to you face to face. I use email today, but in a very different way. I do not socialize, nor do I try to carry on a dialogue with email. It is business communication, not personal correspondence.

Don’t do hallway meetings. Communicate in a professional manner - even when you are small. Have meeting agendas and schedules. Keep on time and create a rhythm of creativity.

Have a weekly creative meeting. To often we allow ourselves to get into a rut when it comes to communicating the Word of God. I meet with staff teams to help them develop creativity in their preaching schedule. One pastor recently commented that he has seen a significant number of visitors since implementing a program of “branding” his sermon series. I use the term “branding” simply as a way of saying that we put an effort in the creativity of promoting the series. If you can increase your attendance, just from your regular attenders, you will see a 10 to 20% increase in overall attendance, not to mention your visitor flow.

Allow “Big Sky” meetings. These are meetings that allow us to take the lid off of our thinking. Brainstorm the possibilities and the impossibilities. Remember, all things are possible for the one who believes.

Map it. These are the times that we navigate the strategy to get to our objectives. Big Sky is only good if you can break the dream down into a series of “doable” steps. God leads us in steps, not leaps.

Assign duties. The staff is there to receive instruction. To many leaders come together in a meeting and the staff asks the questions. Wrong strategy. The leader should be asking the questions. The staff should be answering them.