A Committed Team
##342 A Committed Team
It’s always good to give 100%. Unless you’re donating blood. (groan)
Have you ever asked…
Why doesn’t my team care more?
How do we have requirements without being legalistic?
How do we foster a value for bringing our best to God?
Before C19, we had a good team…but now…how do I rebuild?
When do I know if I should offer grace or hold someone’s feet to the fire?
Should I let them play on Sunday if someone can’t make rehearsals?
How do we get people to be committed if they’re just volunteers?
Many of us ask those essential questions. We want an all-in team that gives 100%, sacrifices together, and is committed to the mission.
I could spell out the “6 ways to build a committed team,” but instead, I’ll answer each of the questions raised.
Why doesn’t my team care more?
They do care. The question is, what do they care about? And that would be a fantastic discussion-starting question at rehearsal this week. “When you think about our worship ministry, what do you most care about?” That way, you’ll be able to see where they are coming from and how you can guide them toward your ultimate vision of a team who cares deeply about the things God’s placed on your heart as its leader.
How do we have requirements without being legalistic?
The key to avoiding being a legalistic jerk is to be 1) clear and 2) understanding. Being clear is being kind, according to Brené Brown (and it’s equally important to say, “being unclear is being unkind.) Spelling out UP FRONT what it means to be a team member is vital. If I know the expectations before joining the team, I can decide whether or not it’s for me. Do the work of stating the obvious in written form - love Jesus, show up prepared, communicate well, serve wholeheartedly, work hard, love people, etc.
And then be understanding when “life happens.” Have grace for your team when they are having a tough week. I love this meme that shows what “showing up daily” actually means. There are two lines. One labeled “What we think it means” is nine circles completely colored in. The second labeled “What it actually means” is those nine circles with two of them completely colored in and the other seven only filled part way. (See it here.)
How do we foster a value for bringing our best to God?
Number one: model it relentlessly (but keep in mind the meme above.) Number two: ask for it. Number three: make it easier (set them up well, give them time to prepare, communicate in advance, and paint the vision vividly.)
Before C19, we had a good team…but now…how do I rebuild?
This one reminds me of the Church at large. If your church was doing “ok” before the shutdowns and never really recovered its glory days since, think like a church plant. So what if you used to have 14 people on your team, and now you have three singers and no instrumentalists? You have three singers!! Build from there. Forget the past, press on to what lies ahead!
When do I know if I should offer grace or hold someone’s feet to the fire?
Consider this: grace may be holding someone’s feet to the fire. But do it kindly. I still remember flunking my sophomore exam in college and one prof asking me, “Dave, does God call us to mediocrity?” The hope is that gracefully holding someone’s feet to the fire will light a fire under them. And they’ll change for the good.
Should I let them play on Sunday if someone can’t make rehearsals?
My favorite response to this question (that usually came with them saying they can handle it) is, “You may be able to handle it, but the rest of the team can’t.” In other words, the effect of not having this team member at rehearsal is too significant. It throws things off. The dynamics, the chemistry, the playing in fractions, the feel… it’s rarely worth the benefit of having them join on Sunday without the midweek rehearsal.
How do we get people to be committed if they’re just volunteers?
Never stoop to calling them “volunteers.” There’s no honor in that, no vision in that, and no energy or passion in that. Call them team members, musical servants, worshipers, musicians…anything. But volunteers.
It’s worth the effort to work at developing a committed team!
-Dave Helmuth
(purchase my book, "Worship Fertilizer: (the first hundred)" HERE)
A Committed Team (Nº 342)
