by Cindy Jansen
The Power of Feedback: Helping Each Other Grow as Church Leaders
As church leaders, we’re all working toward the same goal—serving God, guiding our congregation, and being the best leaders we can be. But let’s be honest. Sometimes, we need a little help along the way. And that’s where feedback comes in. Yes, I said it: feedback. Not the kind that makes you cringe. But the kind that builds, strengthens, and sharpens us into the leaders God wants us to be.
Why Feedback is Crucial for Church Leaders
When it comes to leadership, feedback is essential for growth. We all have blind spots—areas where we don’t see our own weaknesses or where we could be doing things better. Proverbs 27:17 tells us, “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” This isn’t just about telling someone they’ve got spinach in their teeth; it’s about offering honest, loving insights that help each other become more effective in serving God.
Secular research supports this idea. Studies show that regular feedback improves performance and enhances relationships. In the workplace, employees who receive feedback are more motivated, engaged, and productive. Gallup also found that when feedback is consistently shared, it can dramatically improve productivity and retention rates. Gallup research reveals, teams that receive frequent strength-based feedback are 12.5% more productive than those who don’t, and helps reduce turnover by 14.9%. This can be especially relevant in church leadership, where encouraging members to grow in their God-given talents helps build stronger ministries and deepen spiritual growth. When leaders give and receive feedback, it creates a culture of accountability and growth, allowing the entire congregation to thrive.
The Importance of Giving Feedback with Love
As leaders, our feedback needs to be rooted in love. 1 Corinthians 13:4-5 reminds us that love “does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking.” The goal of feedback isn’t to criticize or tear down—it’s to build each other up in Christ. A well-placed word of encouragement can do wonders for someone’s confidence and effectiveness as a leader.
John Maxwell, a leadership expert, puts it this way: “Good leaders must be willing to challenge each other, but they must also be willing to encourage and inspire each other.” This means that feedback should be both constructive and affirming. It’s about helping each other grow and celebrating progress, not just pointing out mistakes.
Practical Ways to Give Feedback as Church Leaders
Here are some practical steps to help you give feedback in a way that builds and strengthens your team:
- Make It Timely and Specific.
Don’t wait until someone’s done something wrong a hundred times before offering feedback. Give it right away—while the situation is fresh—and be specific about what they can improve. For example, a worship leader is leading a song, and the congregation’s energy isn’t quite matching the song’s upbeat rhythm. Instead of saying, “Your worship set was flat,” offer something more specific like, “You did a great job with the song choices today. I noticed that the congregation struggled in the front end of the song. What did you think?” - Don’t use the “Sandwich” Method.
Leave this for your lunch! I’m sure most of you have heard of the sandwich method for giving feedback. It’s where you start with something positive, then offer constructive feedback, and finish with more encouragement. Throw this out the window! Never include positive feedback with constructive feedback. What do you think people will remember? The positive or the constructive? You got it. The constructive. Let the feedback stand on its own. If you need to give constructive feedback, give it. No one likes to be sandwiched. - Be Humble in Receiving Feedback.
As leaders, we’re also on a journey of growth. Be open to receiving feedback from others, and model humility. James 1:19 reminds us, “Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry.” When we listen to feedback, we show that we’re committed to growing in Christ just like anyone else. - Create a Culture of Feedback.
Make feedback a regular part of your leadership. When it’s woven into your team’s culture, it becomes less intimidating and more productive. Create safe spaces for honest conversations where feedback is seen as an opportunity for growth, not a threat.
Here’s the thing: giving feedback doesn’t have to feel like you’re preparing for a firing squad. It can be a positive, uplifting experience that helps us all improve. Just think of it like giving a spiritual “tune-up”—we all need it from time to time! And if you’re nervous about offering feedback, remember even Paul had to correct his leaders (just ask Peter about that one in Galatians 2:11)!
About the Author
Cindy Jansen
Email: [email protected]
Cindy Jansen is a leadership facilitator and coach with a firm in Brookfield, WI. Working solely with leaders at all levels, Cindy helps them build their skills and impact the lives of the people whom they serve. Prior to working solely in leadership development, she worked in the field of human resources for 18 years.
Raised in the WELS, Cindy attended Lutheran schooling through 12th grade. She graduated from UW-Whitewater with a degree in sociology, and then continued to Cardinal Stritch University, where she received her Masters of Business Administration. As an active member of Christ Lutheran in Big Bend, Wisconsin, Cindy is involved in her church, school and Personal Member Ministry team. Cindy lives in Mukwonago with her husband, Travis and children: Colton, Evangeline and Boyd.
Faith Unleashed and Cindy have partnered to deliver customized Christian leadership training. Cindy recognizes that her passion and leadership knowledge can be leveraged for the benefit of God’s kingdom, and more specifically for leaders in the local church. She is committed to providing in-person, online and recorded leadership training as well as individual and team leadership coaching.