God has shaped us all uniquely. How we work, how we think, and how we communicate is part of that unique design. When staff members understand your uniqueness, they can work with you better. So don’t keep them guessing. Instead, write a profile of yourself and share it with those who work and interact with you.

Knowing what makes you tick will help others better interpret your vision. It will also help them complete tasks in a way that suits you. And it can help staff members anticipate needs and respond to them quicker. Here are five things to consider when you are writing up your profile:

1. Personality

Are you Type A or Type B? Are you introverted or extroverted? Do you have a good sense of humor? How’s your taste for adventure? Don’t assume your team members will naturally know these things. Give them key insights into your personality so they can better interpret you.

2. Passions

What gets you up in the morning? What has God been speaking to you about lately? What’s the driving focus of your ministry approach? Begin by thinking through your personal call to ministry. Share with others some stories of events that shaped you into the person you are today. Knowing your passions will help them understand what’s important to you in the church and in life.

When they understand you better, you all work better together.

3. Preferences

What are your favorite foods, vacation spots, sports teams or movies? This isn’t about seeing whether you and your staff are compatible. It’s about what you’re prioritizing. When they know your preferences, staff members gain insight into your life.

4. Principles

What principles are you standing on? What are your spiritual convictions? What are your non-negotiables — not just in your job as a pastor but as a neighbor in your community, as a husband or wife, as a mom or dad, and as a citizen of this country? This will help your staff immensely. They’ll not only know what is vitally important to you, but they can avoid stepping on your toes when it comes to potentially touchy topics.

5. Proficiencies

What are you good at? What are your top three gifts? What do you do better than anything else? This not only sets the table for what staff members can expect from you as a leader, but it also gives them a heads-up about any possible weak areas around you. Anything outside of your proficiency is a potentially delegated task. Knowing what you do well allows others to complement and support you with their own gift sets.

Opening up about yourself makes all the difference when it comes to working with and communicating to your staff members. But it will also improve your relationship with them. Keeping them in the dark can make people feel anxious, wondering whether they’re doing the right thing to make you happy. When they understand you better, you all work better together.