The effects of COVID on society have been very evident and clear. It has impacted all areas of our lives, from schools to healthcare to the economy and to the workplace. In fact, one of the hardest hit areas was the workplace as it has changed the way people work and where they work. We are going through what economists call “The Great Resignation”. People are resigning and taking new jobs, not just because they are finding better, higher paying jobs. It is also because of the effects of toxic leadership.
According to the MITSloan Management Review report, a toxic corporate culture can be detrimental to your business. This is in the business world AND the Church world. After all, the Great Resignation is happening in Churches, too. Ministers are burnt out and not taking new ministry jobs. Part of this is because of a toxic culture at the Church they work out. So how do you know if you have a toxic culture at your Church and what can you do to fix it? Here are some signs, effects of it and how you can improve the culture at your Church
Signs of a Toxic Leadership Culture
There are many signs of toxic leaders. For instance, they:
- are driven by pride
- lack self-awareness and have unhealthy motivations and behaviors
- seek to dominate and micromanage rather than empower others. It is a very highly controlling leadership, limiting the power, creativeness and freedom of others.
- communicate in a one-way manner rather than collaborative
- shame and manipulate others to maintain control
- have co-workers and peers who feel fearful, uninspired and under-valued
- punish mistakes harshly rather than being seen as learning opportunities
- keep secrets and misplace loyalty. They often avoid accountability in decision-making and how they handle money.
Having these toxic traits demonstrated in the main leaders at your Church is unacceptable. Because of this, there are devastating effects on your Church and the Staff.
The Devastating Effects of Toxic Leadership
Toxic leadership breaks trust and ruins a church’s credibility in the community and it destroys the ministry teams. Attendees feel betrayed and ministry teams are left trying to pick up the pieces. As if the younger generations needed more ammunition for why they avoid going to church, they find even more with every controversy or revelation of toxic leadership.
Church leaders have an immense responsibility to lead with integrity, compassion and wisdom. However, far too often, they abuse that responsibility. Instead of fostering and enabling healthy community, toxic leaders seek control and destroy trust that hurts church members, destroys ministry teams and ruins the reputation of the church.
How to Improve Toxic Culture at Your Church
Here are a few ways you can change a toxic culture in your Church Leadership:
Lead by example. Your actions set the tone. That is why you model the open, respectful, ethical behavior you want to see.- Listen and learn. Provide anonymous channels for employee feedback so you can understand pain points and problem areas. Be open to critical input.
- Evaluate and update policies. Review formal and unwritten rules that may enable toxicity like harassment and discrimination.
- Reward desired culture.
- Hire and promote carefully.
- Establish clear expectations – Communicate conduct guidelines and model workplace values like respect, collaboration and accountability in concrete terms.
- Provide training that fosters the culture you want to create.
- Be consistent. Consistency matters. Don’t tolerate toxicity from anyone, regardless of position or title. Apply policies evenly without double standards.
Conclusion
There is no room for toxic leadership in the Church. When ministers and church leaders rule with fear, manipulation and self-interest, they obstruct the hope of Christ and the power of the Gospel. It doesn’t just impact people who attend your Church but also the ministry teams. Lives are impacted negatively because of the Church. That should never happen. Lead as a servant leadership with humility seeking Godly wisdom.
Before you finish reading this post, write down a quick action plan. What are other ways you can change the culture at your Church or ministry? Share them below or on social media.
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