Christian Management Report
February 2005 Issue (Vol. 29, No. 1)
Focus: Employee Terminations
Title: You’re Fired!
“He cuts off every branch that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more.” —John 15:2, NLT
In this issue…we address performance management and termination for cause. CMA’s Human Resource Management Resource Commission examines the entire process from hiring an employee to possible termination—whenever that becomes necessary. Additional helpful material is posted on CMA’s Management Resource Center (go to www.CMAonline.org/mrc and click on Human Resource Management/Recommended Articles). —DeWayne Herbrandson, Executive Editor
CONTENTS ∙ Christian Management Report (Vol. 29, No. 1, February 2005)
Management Focus
You’re Fired!
Decoding “The Apprentice”
By Michael Zigarelli, Dean of Regent University Business School and Editor of Regent Business Review
The enormous popularity of the Donald Trump “reality” TV program, The Apprentice, raises grave concern about the direction of our culture, warns the author. He writes: “Perhaps nothing in our day has done as much damage to the movement toward enlightened business leadership.” Rather than emulate the Trumps of this world, he calls Christian leaders and managers to be apprentices of Jesus, “seeing him clearly, surrendering to him daily, and emulating him in everything we do.”
Human Resource Management
Termination Checklist
Some Important Considerations
By Ronald F. (Ron) Smedley, President, Synergistic Resource Associates
In this helpful article, the author outlines a series of issues to consider before terminating an employee, either for disciplinary or performance reasons. He also lists some important questions the employer should ask when preparing for the termination session itself.
This article also includes two sidebars by Sue Copling (director for human resources for Stonecroft Ministries) entitled: “Exploring the Reasons for Poor Performance” and “When It’s Necessary to Terminate an Employee.”
Human Resource Management
What Can I Do About Poor Performers at Work?
Effective Performance Management Is All About Honesty and Direct Communications
By Jan Bynum, Vice President of Human Resources, Volunteers of America Texas
In employer/employee relations, perhaps nothing raises the manager’s stress level as much as when performance appraisal time rolls around for his or her staff. The reason, says the author, can be directly traced to a lack of openness, and an unwillingness to deal with issues of poor performance at the time they occur. “Performance management,” she writes, “is all about honesty.” Then, instead of a confrontation, the appraisal provides “the opportunity to have a loving and honest conversation with a fellow Christian.”
Human Resource Management
Victims: Be Your Own First Responder!
By Anita Schamber, Senior Associate for Leadership & Organizational Development, World Vision International
According to the author, a fired employee tends to interpret the event in one of three ways: 1) as a blessing; 2) as a lesson learned; or 3) as admission to “the cult of victimhood.” Citing Stephen R. Covey’s book, The 8th Habit: From Effectiveness to Greatness, she writes: “Covey points out that people who remain victims ‘give away their future’ and lose one of the greatest gifts we have: choices.”
Human Resource Management
Safely Terminating Employees
Legal Advice to Help You Avoid a Costly Lawsuit
By Frank Sommerville, Attorney, Hammer & Sommerville
Because 85 percent of lawsuits involving churches arise directly from employment situations, church leaders can reduce their risk and exposure by having carefully documented systems and procedures in place to preclude them. Much of the problem, says the author, stems from “churches attempting to extend the concept of ‘unlimited grace’ to employment circumstances,” resulting in the failure to create adequate documentation, especially when it involves criticism of employees.
Fund Development
Fundraising in a Changing World
5 Challenges Facing Ministries
By Larry Yonker, Partner, The Elevation Group
While the spiritual foundations of Christian ministries never change, the world in which they operate is changing at breakneck speed. “Adapting to this ever-quickening pace of change without sacrificing our core principles,” advises the author, “is the key to moving the work of God’s Kingdom ahead.” In this article, he outlines what he believes are the major challenges facing ministries, and how best to adjust their fundraising strategies to overcome them.
Financial Management
Are You Managing Your Assets Properly?
7 Steps to Protect You and Your Ministry from Loss and Liability
By Mark Bankord, Managing Partner/Chairman, CapTrust Asset Management
Largely as a result of the recent, well-publicized corporate financial scandals, organizations of every kind are facing increasing scrutiny of their activities, and ministries are no exception. “Many board members and ministry leaders are unaware of the personal liability they incur,” warns the author, “if investment responsibilities aren’t handled properly.” In this article, he describes seven steps designed both to protect ministries and their leaders in their stewardship roles, and to build a foundation for the future growth and stability of their organizations.
Board Governance
Assessing CEO Performance
Advice to the Board on What to Do and Not to Do
By Richard M. (Dick) Biery, President, The Broadbaker Group, Ltd.
Assessing the performance of an organization’s CEO is one of the most important responsibilities of its governing board, but the complexity and sensitivity of the task often results in it being mishandled, or put off indefinitely. In this article, the author outlines many of the common mistakes boards make in the process, and describes a series of steps to make it fair and effective for everyone.
CEO Corner
The Fabric of Leadership
Moody’s President Spells Out Important Leadership Practices
By Sarah Loehndorf, Project Manager, Best Christian Workplaces Institute
Joe Stowell, who is stepping down as president of Moody Bible Institute, talks about some of the important lessons he’s learned during his nearly two decades in that position. “The leadership position,” he maintains, “with the managers at the top and the employees clustered at the bottom, is skewed.” He emphasizes the need to build solid relationships, develop high levels of mutual trust, and the importance of the leader’s character. “If the leader has enough character to breed respect in people’s lives,” he says, “they’ll be willing to come along with him or her and join God’s agenda.”
CEO/Leadership
What I Wish I’d Known
9 Simple Principles That Make All the Difference
By Jerry White, President Emeritus, Chairman of U.S. Board of Directors, The Navigators
Having just retired after 18 years as president of The Navigators, the author, who currently serves as chairman of CMA’s board of directors, takes a look back at some of the lessons he’s learned, and a few things he might have done a bit differently. They include: the importance of Scripture; focusing on one’s contribution, rather than position; being a lifelong learner; and allowing suffering and difficulty to build character.
Leadership & Management
The Young and the Restless
Would Words Like Adventure, Experience and Destiny Describe Your Workplace?
By Dave Fleming, Leadership Coach/Author
There’s an old saying about a rut being a grave that’s open at both ends. Previous generations may have been content in those ruts, doing the same old work all their lives, but today’s “young and restless” worker is looking for more. “If you’re serving them the same old thing every day,” warns the author, “you’re going to lose them.” Instead, 21st century workers need stimulation and significance in their jobs – and in their lives.
Leadership & Management
The Crisis of Character!
The Process of Leadership and How It Influences Our Corporate Character
By R. Bruce Bickel, President, Transformational Leadership Group
In this article, the author decries the breakdown in character that has permeated virtually every segment of our culture, and cites the need to transform the society in which we live and work, rather than conform to it. “The basis of transformation,” he writes, “must have its foundation in the realization that character precedes conduct, because who we are determines what we do.”
Church Leadership
The Power of Perspective
Clarifying the “Why,” “What” and “How” of Our Life and Ministry
By Les Taylor, President, Achievement Solutions, LLC
Moving an organization from activity to achievement requires a grasp of three principles, implemented through six steps. In this first of a series of three articles, the author describes the first principle: clarifying perspective, which, in his words, “enables us to see our life and ministry from a particular vantage point.”
Church Management
Recent IRS Rulings of Interest to Churches
By Dan Busby, Vice President, Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA)
A series of recent Internal Revenue Service rulings, plus a Tax Court case, underscore the fact that churches and pastors are not immune from the reach of the IRS. Failure to be aware of, and to abide by, IRS rules and regulations, can have both painful and expensive consequences for pastors, their families and their congregations.
Information Technology
Our World Is About to Change…Again!
Introducing a New Wireless Technology Called WiMAX
By Nick Nicholaou, President, Ministry Business Services, Inc.
Trying to keep up with the changes in technology becomes more difficult with every passing day, and investing heavily in the “latest” equipment can be fraught with peril. In this article, the author introduces WiMAX, “a new wireless technology soon to sweep across our land.” Compared to WiFi’s range of approximately 300 feet, WiMAX will reach up to 30 miles, and provide Internet connectivity almost everywhere.
Tax & Legal Trends
By Charles M. (Chip) Watkins, Attorney, Webster, Chamberlain & Bean
In this article, the author describes several recent laws and regulations enacted by Congress and the IRS that apply to tax-exempt organizations. They include donations of automobiles and intellectual property, technology gifts, and retirement issues.
Also available (referred to in article above:
California Nonprofit Integrity Act of 2004
By Charles M. (Chip) Watkins, Attorney, Webster, Chamberlain & Bean
Management Rules of Thumb
By John Pearson, President/CEO, Christian Management Association
For managers, having to terminate an employee is an always difficult task, or, as the author calls it, “gut-wrenching.” Doing it in a way that honors God may seem almost impossible but, in this article, he offers several principles designed to reduce the need for termination, and to make the process less painful when it does become necessary.
Also available (referred to in article above):
6 Questions Your Staff Wants Answered
By Bob Andringa, President, Coalition for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU)
