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In this episode, I am joined by Benjamin Cashen to talk about something every leader feels, but not everyone knows how to fix: why our teams stop growing.
Ben brings a unique perspective, working across worship, production, media, and leadership. And what stood out to me in this conversation is how simple his framework is. He breaks it down into four pillars: standards, systems, leadership, and stewardship. And as we talked through each one, it became clear why so many of us hit a ceiling in ministry.
I’ve personally experienced this. When everything relies on you, growth stops. Not because people don’t care, but because we haven’t built something that can grow beyond us.
This conversation challenged me, and I believe it will challenge you, to become more intentional with the teams I lead.
Your team won’t grow by accident, which is why we must develop the framework around them.
10 Key Takeaways
1. If Everything Depends on You, You Don’t Have a Team
One of the most confronting truths from this conversation—if your department falls apart when you’re not there, it’s not healthy yet. Real leadership builds something that functions beyond your presence.
2. Growth Happens Through People, Not Just Vision
You can have the clearest vision in the world—but without developing people, that vision will always be limited by your personal capacity.
3. Standards Define What “Success” Looks Like
Most frustration in teams comes from unclear expectations. If your team doesn’t know what “excellent” looks like, they’re just guessing every week.
4. Systems Create Consistency
Systems answer the question: How do we do this?
Without systems, everything becomes dependent on memory, personality, or last-minute fixes.
5. You Can’t Expect Improvement Without Review
If you’re not reviewing what your team is doing, they’re not improving—they’re just repeating. Growth requires intentional feedback.
6. Experience Alone Doesn’t Equal Growth
Time doesn’t make teams better—intentional development does. Without direction, people simply reinforce bad habits.
7. Volunteers Want to Be Challenged
We often under-lead volunteers because we don’t want to “ask too much.” But the truth is, people serve because they want purpose. Give them something meaningful to rise to.
8. Excellence Isn’t About Perfection—It’s About Representation
We’re not trying to impress people—we’re representing Jesus. That means doing our best with what we have, because it reflects Him.
“And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men.” — Colossians 3:23
9. Structure Doesn’t Limit the Spirit—It Supports It
There’s a myth that systems restrict what God wants to do. But throughout Scripture, when God moves, He brings order—not chaos.
“For God is not the author of confusion but of peace…” — 1 Corinthians 14:33
10. Start with Standards and Systems
If you’re not sure where to begin, start here. Define what success looks like, and create simple processes to help your team get there.
Scriptures Referenced & Connected
- Exodus 18:21 — Building teams to share the load
- 1 Corinthians 14:40 — Order in the house of God
- Colossians 3:23 — Excellence in service
- Ephesians 4:11-12 — Leadership develops others
- Luke 16:10 — Stewardship matters
Connect with Benjamin Cashen
If this episode challenged you, I highly recommend connecting with Ben and diving deeper into his resources:
- 🌐 Website: https://cashencreative.com
- 📱 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cashencreative
Ben is also developing coaching and training resources to help churches implement these principles in real, practical ways.
Final Thought
This conversation reminded me of something I’ve had to learn firsthand:
You can’t build a growing church on personality alone.
You can’t build a growing team on passion alone.
At some point, you have to build structure that supports the mission.
And when you do that, when you combine Spirit, structure, and intentional leadership, you will build something that lasts.
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