Measuring the Strength of Your Workplace
First, Break All the Rules: What the World’s Greatest Managers do Differently, Marcus Buckingham & Curt Coffman
By: Linnea Nilsen Capshaw
In the church, we can learn so much from many other organizations. The Gallup Organization has done a massive in-depth study of great managers across a wide variety of situations. Whatever their situations, the managers who ultimately became the focus of Gallup’s research were invariably those who excelled at turning each employee’s talent into performance. Could we use some of the strategies they’ve uncovered to help all those working in and attending our congregations turn their talents, gifts and passions into great ministry for the Kingdom of God? I think so!

“Measuring the strength of a workplace can be simplified to twelve questions. These twelve questions don’t capture everything you may want to know about your workplace, but they do capture the most information and the most important information. They measure the core elements needed to attract, focus, and keep the most talented employees.
Here they are:

1. Do I know what is expected of me at work?

2. Do I have the materials and equipment I need to do my work right?

3. At work, do I have the opportunity to do what I do best every day?

4. In the last seven days, have I received recognition or praise for doing good work?

5. Does my supervisor, or someone at work, seem to care about me as a person?

6. Is there someone at work who encourages my development?

7. At work, do my opinions seem to count?

8. Does the mission/purpose of my company make me feel my job is important?

9. Are my co-workers committed to doing quality work?

10. Do I have a best friend at work?

11. In the last six months, has someone at work talked to me about my progress?

12. This last year, have I had opportunities at work to learn and grow?

These twelve questions are the simplest and most accurate way to measure the strength of a workplace.”