Does your church staff experience the culture you think you’re creating—or have they stopped telling you the truth?
In Part 2 of this conversation on church staff culture, Tim Stevens and Holly Tate unpack two more questions inspired by O.C. Tanner’s Global Culture Report: Do we really want people’s ideas or just their execution? And would the people furthest from the leadership table describe our culture the same way we would?
From micromanagement and innovation to staff feedback and leadership blind spots, this episode challenges senior pastors, executive pastors, and ministry leaders to look beyond their own experience and listen to their teams.
In this episode, you’ll hear:
- How tight controls and excessive approvals can silence your team’s best ideas.
- How Patrick Lencioni’s Working Genius helps clarify when to brainstorm and when to execute.
- Why frontline staff may experience a different culture than senior leaders.
- How honest feedback helped reshape staff meetings at Willow Creek.
- Why conducting a culture survey without following through can erode trust.
- How acknowledging leadership weaknesses—and acting on them—can build credibility.
Healthy church culture requires more than asking for feedback. It requires listening, taking ownership, and making changes your staff can see.
Listen to Part 1 for the first three questions on compassion, staff development, and trust.
**Resources:**
O.C. Tanner’s Global Culture Report: https://www.octanner.com/workplace-culture-reports
Learn about church culture consulting, Working Genius, and LeadingSmart Gatherings—or schedule a conversation through “Let’s Talk”: https://www.leadingsmart.com
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