5LQ Episode 474: How to Structure Staff with Daniel Im

In this episode of the 5 Leadership Questions podcast, Todd Adkins and Chandler Vannoy are joined by Daniel Im. Im is the former co-host of 5LQ and the current lead pastor at Beulah Alliance Church in Edmonton, Alberta. They discuss the following questions: What does Beulah’s staff structure currently look like? How should a small church learn from a large church perspective? When is the right time to make a position paid versus volunteer? When is the right time to restructure the staff? How often should that happen? Are there benefits to a siloed organization or a flat organization, or is it dependent on the circumstances? BEST QUOTES “There are structures and systems in absolutely everything. You are either intentional about it or you just let it happen.” “Our role as kingdom workers is to see God’s kingdom advance which requires scaling and church’s multiplying and growing.” “The structure has to be fluid around who you have on the bus.” “When it comes to staff structure, you need to start with yourself and discern how God has gifted you, what He is calling you to, what are the things that only you can do, and what are the things that as the lead you need to do.” “Overstructuring can actually harm you.” “Learn from the communicators of 1,000+, but don’t learn from their structure because their structure will choke your growth and prevent you from growing.” “Don’t hire three or four ten-hour positions, hire one person who is a master recruiter.” “Re-orging is not a silver bullet.” “If we are re-orging just because we are not happy with the results of our church, that is the wrong time to re-org.” “So many churches turn to re-organizations as a bandage.” “Don’t do it to often, but you have to re-org when there are major changes like succession.” “We too quickly go to other people’s experience and wisdom and we don’t often just sit at the feet of Jesus, pray, wait, listen, and study your own context.” “We have to study our own context and wait on Jesus for the answer.” RECOMMENDED RESOURCES Lifeway Leadership Podcast Network No Silver Bullets by Daniel Im Jesus on Leadership by C. Gene Wilkes “Leadership and Size Dynamics” by Tim Keller Staff Your Church for Growth by Gary McIntosh Designed to Lead by Eric Geiger and Kevin Peck This Episode’s Sponsor: