Articles

Organizations That Survey Annually See Culture Improve Nearly Twice as Fast

dwaldo@workplaces.org (Dr. Doug Waldo) — Mon, 11 May 2026 12:00:00 GMT

Highly engaged employees bring energy and enthusiasm to their daily work. Maximizing the health of your workplace culture is essential for accomplishing the mission of your organization. Research by Best Christian Workplaces demonstrates that an investment in annual surveying of workplace health offers the quickest path to a flourishing culture.

The Active Feedback Loop: Why Healthy Workplaces Never Stop Listening

Tara VanderSande — Mon, 27 Apr 2026 12:00:02 GMT

As a leader, how do you obtain accurate and meaningful feedback from employees at all levels of your organization? And once you’ve taken action to incorporate feedback to improve workplace health, how often should you ask for additional feedback?

Best Christian Workplaces Welcomes Faith Gaines as Vice President of Consulting

marketing@workplaces.org (Best Christian Workplaces) — Wed, 15 Apr 2026 11:00:00 GMT

(Mercer Island, WA)—Best Christian Workplaces is pleased to announce the appointment of Faith Gaines as Vice President of Consulting. She will serve on the senior leadership team. Faith brings extensive global consulting and executive leadership experience from her tenure at Gallup, where she led employee engagement, leadership development, and organizational health initiatives across North America, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.

You Can't Stop the Uncertainty. But You Can Be the Anchor Your Team Needs

Dana Costar — Mon, 13 Apr 2026 12:00:00 GMT

While you cannot always predict the storms your organization will face, some aspects of your annual strategy will probably not proceed according to plan. Organizations that endure a period of uncertainty with continued health have leaders who offer clear, trustworthy direction. They reinforce shared values and include voices from all levels of the organization in navigating uncertainty.

4 Ways Leaders Can Resolve Interpersonal Conflict and Build Stronger Teams

Giselle Jenkins — Mon, 06 Apr 2026 12:00:00 GMT

Understanding how team members are truly experiencing the workplace can be challenging for leaders. One team member may appear perturbed during a meeting. Another grows quiet and stares at her notepad. But what if their demeanor is more about tension brewing between them? What if unresolved interpersonal tension is quietly affecting team trust and collaboration?

God Designed Us for "We": How to Build Fantastic Teams That Flourish

jbransford@workplaces.org (Jay Bransford) — Mon, 30 Mar 2026 12:00:00 GMT

Fantastic Teams are cultivated by leaders who value people and prioritize relationships. These leaders recognize that the health of the team is inseparable from the health and effectiveness of the organization. Creating a flourishing team takes intentional work.

From the very beginning of Scripture, we see that God never designed flourishing to be a solo endeavor. In Genesis 2:18, God says, “It is not good for man to be alone.” That statement isn’t just about marriage—it establishes a pattern for how human beings are meant to live and work. We are created for community. We are created to build, serve, and lead together.

And yet, in many workplaces—even Christian ones—we celebrate the heroic individual. The visionary founder. The high-performing rainmaker. While individual talent matters, Best Christian Workplaces’ research and experience continue to confirm something deeper: flourishing workplace cultures are built on Fantastic Teams, one of eight FLOURISH Factors. Flourishing is based on “we,” not "me."

The Biblical Foundation for Teamwork

When I look at Genesis 1:26, “Let us make mankind in our image,” I’m reminded that even within the Godhead, there is community. The triune nature of God reflects unity, collaboration, and shared purpose. If we are made in his image, then collaboration is not a leadership tactic; it’s part of our design.

Consider Nehemiah and the rebuilding of Jerusalem’s walls. The task was daunting, the opposition fierce, and the timeline urgent. Yet the people succeeded because they worked shoulder to shoulder, aligned around a common mission.

Even the story of the Tower of Babel in Genesis 11:1-9 reveals the extraordinary power of unity. God himself observes that when people are unified in purpose and language, “nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them.” The project was misguided, but the principle is undeniable: unified teams are extraordinarily powerful.

Christian leaders know that Spirit-led unity has great Kingdom impact.

Why Individual Performance Isn’t Enough

In measuring workplace health through the research-based Employee Engagement Survey, we consistently find that flourishing cultures don’t emerge simply because there’s one strong, visionary leader or a handful of high performers. In fact, organizations that rely too heavily on a few “stars” often struggle with silos, misalignment, and quiet disengagement.

Individual excellence without team cohesion creates fragility. When success depends on one or two people, the organization becomes vulnerable. But when teams are aligned, clear on the mission, and committed to one another’s success, resilience and momentum build.

Fantastic Teams understand that shared success matters more than personal recognition. They leverage one another’s strengths. They recognize that what we can accomplish together far exceeds what any one of us could achieve alone.

Psychological Safety: The Soil Where Teams Grow

Healthy teams expect conflict. They understand that diverse perspectives sharpen thinking and improve decisions. In fact, if a team never experiences tension or disagreement, that’s often a red flag for team dysfunction.

The distinguishing factor is not whether conflict happens, but how conflict is handled.

Fantastic Teams operate in environments of psychological safety. People feel free to speak up, offer dissenting views, and raise concerns without fear of ridicule or retaliation. They engage in open, honest dialogue. They address issues directly rather than allowing them to fester.

When leaders cultivate this kind of environment, conflict becomes a refining process rather than a destructive force. Differences of opinion are treated as expressions of diversity of thought and experience. Trust becomes the currency of the team.

By contrast, unhealthy teams either avoid conflict altogether or personalize it. Disagreements turn into defensiveness. Silence replaces candor. Over time, frustration and disengagement grow. The mission suffers.

Christian leaders sometimes misunderstand unity as uniformity. But biblical unity does not mean the absence of disagreement. It means shared intent and purpose, even amid differing perspectives. Jesus prayed that we would be one—not that we would all think identically, but that we would be united in mission and love.

Open Communication: From Silos to Synergy

Open communication is another hallmark of Fantastic Teams. This goes beyond simply sharing information. It involves courageous and respectful dialogue across departments, roles, and hierarchies.

In siloed cultures, people focus narrowly on their own tasks or departments. Information is guarded. Wins are localized. Collaboration is minimal—flourishing stalls.

In contrast, Fantastic Teams see themselves as interconnected parts of a larger whole. They understand how their work impacts others. They communicate across boundaries. They seek clarity when confusion arises.

A large international nonprofit/parachurch organization has been on a 16-year journey of annual surveys and action plans with Best Christian Workplaces. They recently improved from Healthy to Flourishing on their Employee Engagement Survey.

For the past four years, the leadership team has been focusing specifically on healthy two-way communication to work more effectively across departments. Team Snapshot debriefs have helped individual departments identify their strengths and opportunities based on Employee Engagement Survey data. They have seen ways that their departments can work more effectively together. Each department speaks into the overall strategy and annual goals of the organization.

In addition, the International Director holds lunch-and-learns with each department to provide opportunities for them to share ideas, questions, and concerns about the organization.

As a result of their efforts, 15% more of their staff reported “good teamwork across departments,” and 18% more people strongly agreed that staff “exhibit good conflict resolution skills.” In the past 5 years, they have experienced a 17% increase in the number of engaged staff across their organization, which has increased productivity and Kingdom impact!

Intentional focus on open communication results in synergy and momentum within an organization. People feel connected not only to their immediate tasks, but to the larger mission God has entrusted to the organization.

The Leader’s Role in Shaping Team Culture

Leaders at every level play a decisive role in shaping team culture. What you model sets the tone for the entire team. This includes how you listen, respond to feedback, and handle mistakes.

If leaders react defensively to criticism, team members will withhold honest feedback. If leaders compete for recognition, team members will do the same. But if leaders model humility, curiosity, and collaboration, those behaviors ripple outward.

Healthy leaders invite honest feedback about themselves. They acknowledge their mistakes. They demonstrate a willingness to learn. That kind of humility builds trust faster than any new initiative or policy ever could.

Best Christian Workplaces offers Leadership 360 assessments and Leadership Coaching to deepen a leader’s effectiveness in building Fantastic Teams.

Recently, a seasoned top executive reflected on his year of Leadership Coaching. He shared that he expected his Leadership 360 to confirm he was a strong leader. Instead, the feedback from his peers and direct reports highlighted several areas where he needed to grow.

He humbly accepted that feedback as truth and decided he would do all he could to change. He engaged in a year of Leadership Coaching with a Best Christian Workplaces consultant. Each month, he processed input from his stakeholders and asked for ideas on how to keep improving. By the end of the year, nearly all of his stakeholders reported a distinct improvement in his leadership, and one person remarked that he seemed like a completely changed person.

For Christian leaders, welcoming feedback is more than just a good management practice. It reflects the character of Christ. Jesus modeled servant leadership. He washed feet. He empowered others. He shared authority. Humility and collaboration are not optional add-ons; they are core expressions of Christlike leadership.

Take the Next Step to Fantastic Teams

God designed us for community. He accomplishes his purposes through people working together. When Christian leaders cultivate psychological safety, foster open communication, and model humility, they are participating in God’s design for flourishing. Building strong, unified teams is not merely a strategy for improving performance metrics. It’s a biblical calling.

Healthy teams fuel organizational health. Healthy organizations expand Kingdom impact.

Take the next step to improve the health of your team by asking the following questions:

Are people aligned around a clear mission?
Do they feel safe to speak up?
Is open two-way communication the norm?
Is honest feedback invited and received with humility?

Assess the health of the teams across your organization through Best Christian Workplaces’ Employee Engagement Survey. The research-based results will give insight into the strengths and areas for growth in your particular organization. An experienced consultant will come alongside you with encouragement as you develop your own action plan to grow Fantastic Teams.

Flourishing doesn’t happen by accident. It is cultivated. And it is cultivated most powerfully when we shift our mindset from “me” to “we.”

In God’s economy, unity multiplies impact. And when his people work together in trust and purpose, nothing he calls them to accomplish is beyond reach.

Resources

Jay Bransford joins Robert Wachter on the Called to Flourish Podcast: Fantastic Teams: Why Flourishing Is a “We,” Not a “Me”
Building Healthy Teams: Five key elements of exceptional team performance. Go deeper with this Best Christian Workplaces resource
Group Genius: The Creative Power of Collaboration by Keith Sawyer uses examples of jazz bands and stand-up comedy groups. It illustrates the synergies that occur when you allow people to interact with both structure and creativity.

Called to More Than Profit: Your Business Is a Mission Field

Barry Slauenwhite — Mon, 16 Mar 2026 12:00:00 GMT

As Christian leaders, we don’t simply run businesses. We steward God’s resources, influence, and opportunities in a way that can transform our communities, shape culture, and point people toward Christ. When we view our business decisions through the lens of eternity, every choice—whether hiring, pricing, product development, philanthropy, or customer care—takes on a deeper meaning.

State of the Christian Workplace 2026 Report Highlights Positive Improvement in Employee Engagement

marketing@workplaces.org (Best Christian Workplaces) — Tue, 03 Mar 2026 08:00:00 GMT

(Mercer Island, WA)—The State of the Christian Workplace 2026 report provides insights into employee engagement and workplace health in Christian-led workplaces. The report represents the voices of more than 40,000 employees serving in over 400 Christian organizations.

Never Done: New Life Ranch's Commitment to Continuous Culture Care

marketing@workplaces.org (Best Christian Workplaces) — Mon, 16 Feb 2026 13:00:03 GMT

When Beth Schuette, Director of People Operations, learned that New Life Ranch had improved from healthy to a flourishing score on their Employee Engagement Survey, she pushed the “dance party” button on her desk for a spontaneous celebration in the office. It was a fitting way to acknowledge the journey to flourishing that included people across the organization.

Growth in Flourishing Workplaces for Kingdom Impact: 2025 Certified Best Christian Workplaces

marketing@workplaces.org (Best Christian Workplaces) — Thu, 05 Feb 2026 08:00:03 GMT

(Mercer Island, WA)— Today, Best Christian Workplaces honors 310 faith-based organizations and Christian-owned businesses as Certified Best Christian Workplaces in 2025.

These Certified Best Christian Workplaces represent a variety of Christian organizations, including churches, parachurch ministries, mission organizations, Christian-owned businesses, Christian schools, and universities. Certified Best Christian Workplaces are spread across the United States, Canada, and 15 countries in Asia, Africa, Latin America, Europe, and Oceania. On a 5-point scale, certified organizations score at 4.0 and above on Best Christian Workplaces’ Employee Engagement Survey, which is based on rigorous research reflecting more than 20 years of experience.

There has been a significant increase in the number of Certified Best Christian Workplaces over the last five years, from 208 in 2021 to 310 in 2025. This year, a higher proportion of Certified workplaces are in the “Flourishing” range with Employee Engagement scores of 4.25 and above.

Jay Bransford, President and CEO of Best Christian Workplaces, reflects on the importance of healthy workplaces: “I commend each of the leaders on this year’s list of Certified Best Christian Workplaces.These leaders have invested in the health of their workplaces by listening to their staff and taking concrete actions to strengthen their culture and overall employee engagement. Their faithful efforts over the long haul mean that their employees can have joy in their work and serve their stakeholders more fully to accomplish their mission. These organizations seek to honor God and reflect biblical values at work. We have seen many organizations move from unhealthy to healthy to flourishing, as they have utilized the data from our research-based assessment. These organizations make an eternal difference while setting the standard as the best places to work.”

In healthy workplaces, employees bring their full energy to their work, which is reflected in higher productivity. Organizations with engaged employees are more effectively able to accomplish their mission and vision, expanding their kingdom impact.

Christian leaders and organizations that continue to improve in workplace health benefit from the full resources of Best Christian Workplaces. Not only do they assess their health through the Employee Engagement Survey, but they also commit to ongoing action plans to continue to build and grow a healthy environment. They also benefit from Best Christian Workplaces consultants who help them interpret their data and share best practices.

To invest in employee engagement and create a flourishing workplace, contact Best Christian Workplaces. We will equip you through our Employee Engagement Survey and professional consulting services to create an engaged, flourishing workplace™. Jay Bransford shares the commitment of Best Christian Workplaces to support Ministry Partners: “If you are still on your journey to workplace health, know that our team at Best Christian Workplaces is ready to come alongside you with research-based tools to help you create and maintain a flourishing workplace.”