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When a Communications Director steps away, it can leave your church feeling unsure of how to move forward. Whether you’re stepping in to the Communications Leader role temporarily, hiring someone new or beginning the role yourself, you’re not alone - and you don’t have to have it all figured out.

This season can be a great opportunity to regroup, strategize (and simplify), and build or strengthen your relationships and communications ministry. 

Here are a few practical steps to help you get started:

1. Regroup and Confirm Priorities

Meet with your lead pastor or executive team along with other communications team members to clarify what matters most right now.

Ask questions like:

• How are you (personally and in your work)? 
• How can I pray for and with you as you lead?
• What are the most important church-wide priorities?
• Which ministry events or efforts are the top focus in the next 60–90 days?
• What communication wins would help other leaders, staff and the church most right now?
• How would you like to connect and plan together moving forward?

Use this information to guide how you and your team spend time and energy.

2. Listen to Ministry Leaders

Connect with, pray with, and check in with your ministry leaders - but keep it simple. You’re not trying to fix everything at once. Try asking:

• How are you (personally and in your work)?
• What’s working well for your ministry's communications?
• What’s frustrating or not working?
• What tool, template or resource would help you communicate better?

These conversations will help you spot patterns and identify some possible wins and helpful next steps.

3. Clarify Roles and Responsibilities

Even if your team is small or shifting, make sure everyone knows who’s doing what.
Ask yourself:

• Who is part of our communications team right now? Is it clear to me? Is it clear to others?
• Along with this, who owns the different areas/roles, such as overall communications planning/strategy, project management/details, content, design, digital, social, etc.?
• Have we communicated this clearly to the rest of the staff and other leaders?

Clarity builds confidence - and reduces confusion for everyone.

4. Lead by Asking Great Questions

Ongoing, continue asking questions like these … 

• Are there gaps we haven’t addressed yet?
• What’s truly urgent vs. what can wait?
• Should we bring in extra help - internally or externally?
• Looking ahead, what are our overall goals and priorities?
• How can the communications team partner with our leaders and the ministry areas even more to support these goals and priorities through the church’s communications and marketing efforts? 
• How can we serve our audiences in meaningful ways through our communications and ministry efforts?
• What should we stop doing or pause? What should we tweak or adjust? What new things should we try?
• What does success look like? How can we track our progress

5. Celebrate Wins

In a transition season, encouragement goes a long way. Spot the wins - no matter how small - and name them. Send a quick “thank you” message. Cheer for your team. Bring coffee or cookies to the meeting. Share an encouraging story in a staff meeting.

Energy builds when people feel seen and appreciated. Our teams always need more encouragement and positivity!

6. Need Extra Support?

If your church needs help during this transition, we’re here for you. Fishhook partners with churches to bring communications strategy, creativity and clarity - especially during seasons of change.

To learn more about partnering with Fishhook to regroup and refresh with your team, reach out. We’d love to connect!