The Unstuck Church Podcast with Amy Anderson

The Understaffed Team with Too Many People - Episode 382

Feb 5, 2025

The hosts dive into the peculiar dilemma of churches feeling both understaffed and overstaffed. They share insights into the emotional toll this paradox takes on staff and ministry effectiveness. Listeners learn about the necessity of data-driven assessments and the importance of true leaders in leadership roles. Strategic frameworks and real church examples provide practical guidance for evaluating staffing dynamics. The episode emphasizes using objective data for informed decision-making while offering valuable tools to improve team structures.

17:39

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Quick takeaways

Churches often face the paradox of being overstaffed yet feeling understaffed due to misaligned roles and ineffective resource allocation.

Conducting thorough assessments and utilizing external feedback are crucial for churches to optimize their staffing strategies and promote effective ministry.

Deep dives

Identifying Staffing Contradictions

Many churches experience a paradox of feeling both overstaffed and understaffed simultaneously. This contradiction often arises from a misalignment in staffing roles and the ineffective allocation of resources. For instance, one church might have a low attendance-to-staff ratio, suggesting they are overstaffed, yet the staff feels overwhelmed and is handling multiple responsibilities. Such discrepancies highlight the importance of critically assessing staffing dynamics and addressing any structural shortcomings within the church.

Intro

2min

Balancing Staffing in Churches

7min

Navigating Staffing Challenges in Church Leadership

4min

Evaluating Staffing and Organizational Health for Churches

3min

Navigating Staffing Tensions in Ministry

2min

In Part 1 of a new series we're calling "Church Staffing Oxymorons," Sean and Amy explore a common staffing oxymoron that all too many churches face: teams that are simultaneously understaffed and overstaffed.

In this episode we unpack:

Why churches often end up with misaligned staffing
What this tension feels like for different ministry areas
Common but ineffective solutions churches try
How to properly assess your starting point
The importance of having true leaders in leadership roles
Practical next steps for evaluating and addressing staffing imbalances

Plus, we share real church examples, discuss assessment tools that can provide objective data about your staffing reality and provide guidance for leaders who want to build healthy, sustainable team structures that support effective ministry.

This Episode is Brought to You By Planning Center: Planning Center is an all-in-one toolkit to organize and run your ministries. And what is a ministry without volunteers?

Planning Center helps you build a sustainable and balanced volunteer schedule that aligns ministry needs with people’s availability. Then, you can connect with your team using chat, where you can coordinate ministry details, make announcements, and engage in fun conversations with your teammates.

Get started for free at planningcenter.com.

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