ChurchSafety

In general, church offices are staffed by people who desire to serve God, and tend to think of their jobs as "callings" or "ministries." I know I did! I showed up at my small church office filled with great anticipation of what I would accomplish in the name of the Lord. Once the honeymoon was over, I found myself discouraged and feeling disillusioned.

There are five pitfalls of church office work that if they're not dealt with can leave you feeling as disillusioned to your job as I was. Use the following tips to overcome the stumbling blocks that often discourage us in our jobs.

Unhealthy stress. It's good to work hard, but not to the point that leaves you bitter, burnout, and broken. Make sure you take time out of your day to spend moments with the Lord. Mini devotions can renew your spirit, making the day more bearable. If you need to get out of the office for 30 minutes to get your mind back in order, don't be afraid to leave the church for that time in order to gain perspective on your day.

Frequent interruptions. The first question to ask yourself is whose time is it? More than likely, God has position you here. As you examine your time spent at the office, and the time God has given you, you'll find there's a balance. Begin asking him "How should my time be spent?" when someone is interrupting your work, and you'll find your attitude might change.

Lack of communication. Set up healthy communication habits with your boss. Make sure you're meeting regularly, have clear job responsibilities, and are communicating frequently. If you don't have this type of relationship, take the initiative to start one.

Poorly defined job expectations. It is essential to write a description for each work function in a standardized format so that everyone can know the main elements of every job there is to do. These descriptions need to be put into a church policy and procedure manual so that, if there are any disputes or misunderstandings, everyone has the same information to consult.

Demands on my time. To avoid this pitfall, take practical steps to organize your time and space. If you have a long list of "to-dos" always reconstruct it into something manageable. Nothing is more overwhelming than a long list of tasks.

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