Three Things Businesses Can Learn From Churches

I have had the privilege of working in both the corporate and church worlds. Over the years, I have noticed a cross-pollination process where ideas from one world are used and applied in the other. Most of what I have seen are churches borrowing from the business world versus businesses borrowing from the church world.

I can't recall how often I have heard pastors talk about getting the right people on the bus, which is from the management book “Good to Great.” As I have entered the phase where the years spent in church work have surpassed my business years, I have come to see that there are things that businesses can learn from churches.  

Below are some things I have seen that can help businesses be successful and profitable.

Clear Vision and Mission: Churches are typically built around a clear vision and mission, which helps them stay focused and aligned with their goals. The Bible is the foundation of this vision.  Churches come in various sizes and makeup, yet they have the same goal of taking the gospel to the world. While some do it better than others, most have this gospel-spreading idea as their clear vision and focus their efforts on this vision.

Take, for example, the Southern Baptist Convention. This evangelical denomination is built around the goal of mission work and taking the gospel to places where the gospel does not exist. This denomination has created the largest mission board in the world with a budget of over two hundred and seventy-five million dollars that funds close to 4000 missionaries. They can raise all this money with donations from the churches in their denomination.

In the same way, businesses can benefit from having a clear and compelling vision and mission that guides their decision-making, strategy, and actions. I realize most companies already know this, but do they? I see many commercials, social media posts, and other information coming from companies, and I still need to figure out what they want the employee or the customer to do. 

Having a clear vision and mission allows people to buy into what you are seeking to do. Once people buy in, they will bend over backward to help make it happen.

Servant Leadership: Many churches strongly emphasize servant leadership, which is a leadership style that prioritizes the needs and well-being of others over the personal ambitions and interests of the leader. This idea comes from Mark 9:35, where Jesus said: 

And he sat down and called the twelve. And he said to them, “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all. 

This can be a powerful approach to leadership in business, as it can create a culture of trust, collaboration, and empowerment. It can also go a long way with customers. It reminds me of the 1940s Christmas movie “The Miracle on 34th Street”. While working at Macy’s, Kris Kringle tells a Macy’s customer that they do not have a particular toy but can get one at Gimbels. While the management freaks out over this and wants to fire Kris, the customers go crazy in a good way. The compliments pour into Macy’s leadership, with people proclaiming their loyalty to Macy’s and their willingness to put the customer first. This was so well received that the two famous department stores began doing their best to send customers to other stores in a battle of putting the customer first.

This may sound far-fetched for a business, but maybe not. As a church staff member, I know my goal is to help people find a church that fits who they are. I would rather they be happy in another church than dissatisfied at ours. The same could be true of a business. If you genuinely want to put the customer first, it is best to help them find a solution, even if it is not with your company. You may lose a customer for that moment, but in the long run, you will gain a reputation for honesty and trustworthiness that pays off in the future.

Community Building: Churches often successfully create a strong sense of community among their members. This is achieved through regular communication, shared values, and opportunities for social interaction and shared experiences. Successful Churches develop opportunities to spend much time with one another outside the church's walls on Sundays. It may be in small group activities during the week, family events, meals together, or simply getting together with one another for coffee.

Similarly, businesses can benefit from fostering community among their employees, customers, and stakeholders. This can help to build loyalty, engagement, and a sense of shared purpose.

I saw this firsthand in the business world while working at General Dynamics Corporation (GD). One of the benefits of working at GD was a huge 100+ acre recreation area. There was tennis, basketball, softball, football, and a vast pool and picnic grounds. They offered all kinds of leagues and classes.

This recreation area made it possible for employees to connect outside of work. Playing in various sports leagues and hanging at the pool created a community atmosphere that transferred to the workplace. We knew each other and enjoyed being around one another. We could discuss the tennis league or last night's basketball game against another department. There was a sense of community and camaraderie that developed from all this outside activity. It felt like we were much more than just co-workers, we were friends. Developing co-working friendships can go a long way in helping a company to be successful and profitable.

Churches and businesses are different. They have different agendas and purposes. I believe universal principles flow from the scriptures and apply to churches and businesses. We must recognize these principles to succeed. Scriptural principles applied to any organization will have results that make the church and businesses successful, whatever their vision and mission.