If you oversee a communications director, you may find yourself wondering how you can best support him/her and really maximize communications impact in your church and community.

Executive pastor, we know there is never a dull moment for you. You might oversee finance, facilities, human resources, information technology, communications and a whole host of additional areas and initiatives.

If you oversee a communications director, you may find yourself wondering how you can best support him/her and really maximize communications impact in your church and community. We would encourage you to schedule check-in meetings with your communications director and cover the following questions on a regular basis.

  1. How are you doing?
    Take a few moments to learn more about what's happening in the communications director’s ministry and life right now. The conversation might focus on ministry wins or personal challenges. Either way, it will help you build the relationship and know what might be impacting the work.
  2. What is your biggest win/challenge right now?
    This could be related to projects, time management, budget, volunteers or any number of issues. Continuing this part of the conversation over time can help you build trust and understand how you can bring out the best in your communications director.

    Is there a need to plan for budget increases? Do you need to adjust his/her job description? Maybe you need to provide a fresh perspective? Take time to celebrate the wins and pray about the challenges.

  3. What would you like to learn next?
    Like many professions, there is a need for continuing education as it relates to church communications. Give your communications director the time and resources it takes to learn about social media trends, new technologies, communications strategy and to just be inspired. Training can be provided through conferences, resources like Fishhook University or The Table, networking forums or college-level courses. Communications directors often have a hard time tearing themselves away from their daily work. Help your communications director take next steps to schedule and complete professional development plans.

  4. What should we plan for in next year’s budget?
    This is a great question to cover periodically in conjunction with your fiscal year planning processes. Facts are friends. In today’s world, communications will be an ongoing item in your annual budget. Funds will be directed to cover the costs of print and electronic communications tools, software upgrades, hardware needs, training, subscriptions, web hosting fees, signage, special initiatives, marketing, volunteer appreciation, etc. Sometimes, we just don’t know what we don’t know. Invite your communications director to forecast specific resource needs and then you can work with your finance team to see what is possible.

  5. How can I help you in your role?
    Again, this question is a trust builder over the course of time. Make sure you are connected enough to your communications director to understand your church’s communications strategies and “the why” behind them. As you receive feedback from your staff or congregation, you’ll be able to support the strategies or direct the feedback to the appropriate channels.
This is also a great time for you to offer encouragement, insight and even highlight areas of opportunity. Keeping brief notes about these conversations can also help you focus conversations during the employee’s review process.