Bracing for Feedback
by Pastor Travis Norton, Pinnacle West Associate
After more than twenty years in ministry, I’m proud of the work I do—and I still want to get better. Not because I’m beating myself up, but because the gospel deserves my continual growth. The people who work with me deserve a leader who helps them thrive. And the congregation I serve deserves a pastor who isn’t the same leader year after year.
When I say better, I mean clearer communication, steadier leadership, a healthier culture for staff, and greater effectiveness in the mission we share. Some of that comes through small adjustments; some through bigger course corrections. And the only way to know which is which is honest feedback. So I recently asked my senior staff two simple questions I usually give to premarital couples:
— What do you wish I would do more of?
— What do you wish I would do less of?
I sent the questions ahead of time so they knew I was taking this seriously. What they may not have known was how nervous I was to hit send. Like I tell couples, I had to put my defensiveness on the shelf before I asked and commit myself to active listening.
Their responses were direct, loving, and incredibly helpful. They wanted me to make decisions earlier and communicate them more consistently. They wished I would change my mind less often and set clearer standards for the team. None of this was totally new to me—but hearing it from people I trust still stung a bit.
I had a choice: throw myself a pity party for not being perfect or receive the gift they were offering and commit to get better. Leaders who grow are leaders who listen. And if I believe that for others, I need to practice it myself.
The harder work, of course, is acting on the feedback and asking those beneath me on the organization chart to help me. That requires a great deal of humility and sometimes I just have to pretend to be humble until it becomes real. But the desire to serve well—and the Spirit’s whisper from 1 Corinthians 1:25—keeps me moving: “God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom.”
Many clergy want to grow but don’t always know where to start or how to ask for help. If you’re ready to take your next step—seeking feedback, clarifying your leadership, or strengthening your ministry culture—I’d love for you to partner with Pinnacle West. We’re here to walk with you as you develop your own plan for growth and health in ministry.
