Churchteams

3 solutions to getting the data leaders need when they need it

Written by Boyd Pelley | 1/14/25 9:00 PM

What happens at your church when a pastor or other leader requests a report they need for something they are working on (like one of the ones listed in the image below)?   Does it require an admin to build and run the report; then email, or even print it? 

This takes admin time, sure.  But, the bigger issue is that the leader often wants the information on that report for something they are thinking about at that moment, and by the time the report arrives they have left that project and moved on to something else.  

Here's the point:  when it comes to reports, timing often matters.

In Churchteams, the way to make sure leadership gets the information they need from your data when they need it is by creating then saving the right report.   Saved reports can be scheduled which is great for updates on goals and benchmarks. 

However, adding saved reports to leaders' dashboard gives them access to this information immediately, from any device, any time they happen to be thinking about it.  Imagine a pastor or other leader logging in and immediately having this information at their finger tips. 

 

It seems to me there are three common obstacles to leaders having quick access to the data they need, when they need it.  Here they are along with solutions for each one.

The leader solution.  Pastors are often laggards when it comes to adoption of technology.  They prefer to focus on vision and relationships, and are grateful for admins and others who prefer to focus on details.  However, today's work environment requires everyone including leaders to have basic competencies in the use of software.

Leaders must become convinced that using church software will help them do a better job of realizing the vision and caring for people.  It is built to do that, but it has to have everyone's input to have the data it needs. 

The admin solution.  Ministry admins know the value of software for their job and often become protective of it.  They want to make sure the data stays clean and useful.  Yet, they also realize the importance of timeliness and don't want to be an obstacle.

So, admin, make sure you save the ministry reports your team needs.  Then, share those report names with your staff and help them add them to their Favorites and Metrics cards.  This will assure both cleanliness and timeliness.

The "How-to" solution.   If you are just not sure how to create the reports necessary to get the information you need, start with these Knowledge Base articles, and then feel free to email or call us for more help.
  1. Introduction to Reports 
  2. How do I save reports?
  3. How do I schedule reports?
  4. What are some common metrics card reports

Decision-making is a difficult part of the job of a church leader.  Some decisions are crystal clear and easy to make.  Some are gut-wrenching.  The value of clean, timely data is that it can affirm the direction a leader is leaning.  It can also challenge that direction.  Either way it serves the leader, the church, and the Lord well. 
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