As a local church staff member, I’ve been fortunate to come across several organizations that have greatly supported me during and since the challenging quarantine season of 2020. These include Church Communications, Women in Apologetics, Theology Mom, She Leads Church, Carey Nieuwhof, and the Vanderbloemen Search Group. Through their blogs, podcasts, and resources, I’ve gained wonderful insights that continue to shape my approach to effectively serving in the local church.

The resources provided by Vanderbloemen Search Group were especially helpful with salary and benefits resources for not only executive church leaders, but also those of us serving in professional ministry as lay persons. Sharing the results of financially supporting professional laity were life changing for many around the country who were hiring, who were deciding to stay or go, who were deciding to reorganize, and who were advocating for equitable compensation for ministry with children and families professionals especially before and during the Great Resignation.

William Vanderbloemen has authored several books. I was downright delighted and inspired by his latest, Be the Unicorn: 12 Data-Driven Habits that Separate the Best Leaders from the Rest (HarperCollins Leadership, 2023). I’ve read the book and listened to it twice on Audible. The stories and suggestions of how to improve and practice the twelve habits were encouraging and well-defined no matter where you stand on the ladder of the faith-based organization you serve. These are the soft skills that I agree are absolutely necessary to build a healthy, effective, growing organization.

Want to be unusually effective, aka a unicorn, as a member of your staff for the cause of Christ? These are MY interpretations of how I can up my habits and skills as a team player on an effective church staff:

1. The Fast – I’ve been riding learning curves like a driver on the Atlanta Motor Speedway over the last four months: new database, new email/communication platforms, new public office, and new spaces. We’re running like wild horses, so I better be able to keep up ‘cuz I’m not missing a thing. Some have been intuitive (spaces, adaptability, relationships, planning). Some have not (databases, new email/communications platforms, etc.) So thankful for Youtube and the prayers of ‘Lord, let Your priorities reign today.’
2. The Authentic – It’s helpful to be real upfront, ready to apologize, ready to celebrate others, and live as a child of God among other real children of God.
3. The Agile – Kidmin folk are pivot professionals: the service goes long, the service finishes early, servant leaders call out, the folks higher on the planning chain edit events up to the day before. We have Plan A through Plan G for Easter Sunday and Christmas Eve and all along the way.
4. The Solver – This is the habit I’ve found easiest to live out because planning far enough in advance leaves the most margin for problem solving. Be the one who doesn’t come with the problem unless there are several ways to solve it while keeping the goals at the forefront. There is no room for the grumbler or complainer here.
5. The Anticipator – Not talking about being a prophet here, but someone able to consider all the possibilities for effectiveness and the most effectiveness. Want to be fruitful or REALLY fruitful. It’s a focused attention on the logistics, systems, and processes from the parking lot and back to the parking lot. My preschool teacher days were great training in this.
6. The Prepared – I’ve never been one to shoot from the hip. I admire those who can deliver a message, a children’s moment, and even a public prayer without some preparation. Does preparation look like packing the car on Saturday rather than waiting until Sunday morning? Does preparation look like reading the church-wide study a couple months ahead of time? Does preparation look like having a 2-year calendar? Does preparation look like meal prep if I’m pulling a 14-hour day? 
7. The Self-Aware – This is what I know about me: I tend to interrupt (I get excited!); I tend to stay until the last person leaves (FOMO maybe?); I tend to make 5 stops on the way to the 1 place I really need to go (the big grands have already called me out on this one); I’m loud (thanks, Dad!); my conflict management style is accommodation (usually good for everybody but me); my working genius is galvanizing (the natural gift of rallying, inspiring, and organizing others to take action…my operative word being ‘organizing’) and invention (just give me the navigational beacons to stay within and I can figure it out; creating original and novel ideas and solutions); I’m no Bible scholar, but I am a satisfied customer of the scriptures.
8. The Curious – I LOVE learning! I work on my questions outnumbering my statements.
9. The Connected – NOW we’re talking. I can only think of one day where I have ever over-peopled. Holy guacamole anyone?
10. The Likable – Nothing like a Facebook birthdays to make a person feel likable. If I lose my joy, I lose my impact.
11. The Productive – I want to talk about Jesus, my family, and my local church family all the time. All. The. Time. Lord, let me stay faithful to be more about the Lord of the work and not only the work of the Lord.
12. The Purpose-Driven – Do you know your purpose? This!

Another quick article about becoming a unicorn employee can be found here.

If you have the opportunity to access Vanderbloemen’s book, whether through Audible or in print, I highly recommend it as a valuable resource for personal and professional growth. Its insights offer practical steps for anyone seeking to enhance their leadership and effectiveness in ministry. If you get the IRL book, be ready to read it then pass it on. This is not the kind of content that needs to stay on a shelf.

I know of a few habits I’m going to work on this year to build into my daily routine because I want to be a unicorn for Jesus.

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.” Colossians 3:23
“No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs – he wants to please his commanding officer.” 2 Timothy 2:4
“…and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.” Mark 10:44-45