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GOVERNANCE & MINISTRY
by Dan Hotchkiss
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Principles for Sound Staff Evaluation
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Excerpt
Many people flinch at the mention of evaluation, and with reason. In congregations, staff evaluation often is conducted as a popularity poll with anonymous respondents rating staff performance on the basis of subjective impressions. In effect, the staff members answer to hundreds of semi-invisible bosses who can invent new things to blame them for at any time. This approach raises stress and does little to improve performance. Others dislike staff evaluation because people who are in conflict with a staff member often propose evaluation as a way to express unhappiness. When evaluation is done well, it clears the air and motivates improvement. Regular evaluation helps to surface issues while the relationship is good enough to make it possible to work on them. Despite the pitfalls, evaluation is important to effective partnerships, starting from the board and head of staff and moving throughout the staff. Firm boundaries require accountability, and accountability requires
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