Staff Lessons to Live By

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We met as a staff to prep for the year. We've been developing some Staff Lessons to Live By. Here is what I shared with them:

HONESTY WINS THE DAY
It's better you are honest than a good campus minister. If you're not sure what to do in a situation, ask. If you do something dumb, tell us. If you are stuck in what the next level of your ministry is suppose to be, ask someone. Is someone on staff or a student rubbing you the wrong way and there is conflict? Address it.

THE MISSION DRIVES THE TRAIN.
Your personal preference is important, but it takes a back seat to the mission. Sometimes your idea or plan isn’t chosen. Sometimes you don’t lead the mission trip, ministry team you want. Use that disappointing energy to build a bridge and get over it. This is a rhapsody of compromises.

EVERYONE HAS A VOICE
We sit as equals here. different roles but as equals - from the Ministry Assistant to the Director. Interns - you are staff. Directors - you are staff.  To students and the outside world we are STAFF. We don't make distinctions because everyone's voice carries weight. If you have an idea and you don't share it, you cheat us all. We are trying to change the world. Every idea is needed!

ALL THE PIE IS ALL OF OURS, BUT YOU HAVE A PIECE.
You have leadership over the piece of the ministry that you lead in. That doesn't mean you are some microcosm apart from the bigger picture. Others can and will speak into it your ministry.  Don't feel insecure.

CHIEFS AND INDIANS
At our different events we have one chief and the rest of us are Indians. Clayton is not always the chief. There will be times when you are in charge and Clayton works for you. Do your best and don't abuse it because at the next event you will be an Indian.

WALK YOUR TALK
Have your own personal ministry outside of leading one. BSM cannot be your own personal ministry. Have lost friends. Have personal ministry targets and goals.

KNOW WHAT GAME YOUR PLAYING
This comes from another article. You can click here to read it.  The main point is knowing what kind of team you're dealing with determines what communication expectations are and should be.

LIVE IN OIKOS
Pray together
Play together
Eat together
Mission together
Share together
For more info on that you can click here.

OPEN CIRCLES
Don't let staff become a huddle. We must model the inviting/host culture we expect from our students. When students are around we are all about students. We can catch up later.

CAMPUS IS BETTER THAN THE BSM
If you can do it on campus, do it on campus. Meet with students on campus. Eat on campus.  Let the BSM be the place your store your stuff and park your car on your way to campus.  Nothing more.

That's the running list of Staff Lessons to Live By. I'm sure we will continue to tweak it as we live them out. What would you add?

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