Creating a workplace culture where everyone, men and women, thrive and everyone knows where they stand, who they answer to and what their entitlements are is the focus of the next two best practices.
In light of #metoo and #churchtoo, many church leaders are adopting the “Billy Graham Rule” (never eat, meet or ride in a car alone with a woman) as a way of keeping their ministry and their personal godliness in check.
Kadi Cole has personally benefitted from working under church leaders who lived these princples, however in her book Developing Female Leaders she recommends a 21st Century refresh of this principle.
Best Practice #6: Create an Environment of Safety
It’s not 1948 anymore. When a person wants to pursue inappropriate relationships, they will find ways. Inappropriate intimacy with colleagues has become an issue using 21st Century with blurred boundaries. Plus, it’s not only women, but young men interns and even children have been mistreated by their leaders.
Cole recommends several steps to develop clear relational boundaries in the workplace. The most dramatic step that creates the most change in workplace culture is her “take two” principle. Take two developing leaders out for a coffee meeting. Take two on a hospital visit. Take two to a conference with you, etc.
“Two men, two women, or one man and one woman plus you makes three, and there is safety in groups of three or more. By taking two leaders, you instantly double your development efforts and create a safe environment at the same time. It takes away the intimacy and one-on-one exclusive connection. It not only helps connect young leaders to you personally, but it also builds peer relationships between two people who are a lot more likely to be available and stay in relationship with each other over their lifetimes. In addition, you take any pressure off anything that might look inappropriate or that hints that you might be showing favoritism based on gender.”
This doesn’t meant that one to one conversations can’t still occur in the office. But why not take on this approach to create a safe and thriving workplace culture for both men and women?
Some churches have solved the “problem” of men and women working together by adopting “isolation” as the standard not realising that women are missing out on mentoring opportunities and overall growth. Other organisations may struggle to also include women in their workplace culture having set up a language, style of humour or staff bonding experience that often unintentionally exclude women. Measures taken to create a safe work place often leave women with the short end of the stick.
If organisations are serious about intentionally developing female leaders they must do the hard work to determine what guidelines help both men and women thrive. Men shouldn’t fear the woman they meet with 1 hour a month and yet freely meet and communicate with their female personal assistant at all hours. There should be no double standards and all should be able to benefit from safe workplaces.
Best Practice #7: Upgrade Your People Practices
The practices that Cole recommends organisations consider are not only good for women but for all involved and the ministry as a whole.
equal pay for equal work
accurate titles
family benefits
flexible schedules
education and development opportunities
work-life balance
honest performance reviews
“Taking a close look at our human resource practices, discussing these sensitive issues in an open and collaborative way, and holding ourselves accountable through metrics can ensure that we are truly leading in a way that aligns with our beliefs and values.”
In the Facebook group, I’ll share some examples from the “people practices” section that I thought were noteworthy.
AFES - Being a part of a national organisation rather than a stand-alone local church has its benefits. There are opportunitites and training that we adhere to in order to create a safe and thriving workplace. As staff we are mindful of the dynamic between ourselves and students, as well as our student leaders and those they are serving. Once or twice a year we review with our student leader team risks that might hinder our mission on campus, including interpersonal relationships. Adopting a “take two” approach is a great way of building up new leaders while not posing a risk to our mission on campus. Without making it into a “rule” we can encourage staff and students to benefit from being generous with our time and work and bringing two people along for the ride.
Best Practices:
Create an Environment of Safety
Upgrade Your People Practices
Developing Female Leaders: Navigating the Minefields and Releasing the Potential of Women in Your Church, Kadi Cole, Thomas Nelson, 2019, 224pgs.