I’m always saying that creating culture is the most important and most difficult job for pastors.

I just met with an NCCer who shared a fascinating insight from Fast Company. He said that 95% of firings are not due to incompetence. They are due to the fact that the person fired didn’t fit the culture. That really resonates with me.

Here are a few “intangibles” I look for in staff to make sure there is a cultural fit.

1) You’ve got to be able to laugh at yourself!
2) You’ve got to be passionate about what you do!
3) You’ve got to be self-motivated.
4) You’ve got to be willing to go the extra mile.
5) You’ve got to be committed to excellence.
6) You’ve got to be teachable.
7) You’ve got to be a little crazy.
You’ve got to be sold out to God.
9) You’ve got to be fired up about the vision of NCC.
10) You’ve got to laugh at my jokes

I’m so proud of our staff. They are gifted and passionate. And I realized something the other day. Only one staff member had previous experience working for a church before we hired them. We’ve hired rookies with tremendous potential. I’m more concerned about attitude than experience. Experience can be an asset or a liability.

I’m a big believer in getting the right people on the fifteen-passenger van and then figuring out where they sit.