Don’t Be Nitpicky

How do you know when you’re going from being detail-oriented, exacting, meticulous, and nuanced to... nitpicking? Where’s the line?

Every Fader must answer this critical question.

But to increase your distaste for nitpicking, let me tell you what my son Aspen taught me. It’s incredible what your 17-year-old leans in biology.

The Oxford online dictionary defines nitpicking as “the finding or pointing out of minor faults in a fussy or pedantic way.” That’s gross enough. But wait, there’s more.

If you’re going to pick nits, you’d better know what a nit is. Do you know? You’re about to.

“Dad, do you know what a nit is? It’s a head louse egg. You know, from lice?”

Ew! A nit is “the egg of a louse or other parasitic insect, especially the egg of a head louse attached to a human hair.” So. Gross.

Suddenly, even the most meticulous among us doesn’t want to be nitpicky!

So, back to my original question about where the line is. I’ll give each Fader some self-evaluation clues to know you’re crossing over to the unhealthy side of the line and need a “lice comb.”

Artist

Remember what perfectionism does? It HIGHLIGHTS the single mistake and IGNORES the rest of the perfect performance of the song. Ask yourself, “Am I too focused on making my team sound exactly like the recording?”

Shepherd

Sometimes we’re so used to considering each individual, that we put too much attention on who we currently have on the team and our “perfect” chemistry. Ask yourself, “Am I continuing to pray and search for more team members or is all my energy going to guarding my current team?”

Priest

We bring such devotion and connection with God to our worship that we can lose sight of the bigger picture. Ask yourself, “Am I focused on hating all those other stupid Faders and just wanting to worship Jesus?”

Educator

Not everyone wants to grow as much as we want them to. They’re “fine,” and we’re “AGH!” Ask yourself, “Am I pushing my team too hard to keep growing?”

Producer

We all love change. Except for all change that WE don’t initiate. Changes are the Producer’s nits. Ask yourself, “Am I appropriately flexible when people mess up my plans?”

This is a good moment to let you in on some exciting news. We’ve been working on writing the manuscript for the Five Faders book, and it’s done! We’re deep into the editing process and hope to have the finished product available this summer!

Writing the Worship Fertilizer for the last 16 years paved the way for this moment. Here’s a short description of what you can expect from the Five Faders book:

Why do some leaders succeed at building lasting worship ministries while others fail? In the Five Faders, Dave Helmuth explores the process of development and breaks down the lies, myths, and traps keeping you from being the fruitful leader God desires. Using decades of evidence-based insights, Dave reveals how understanding what motivates you is the first step in becoming a Five Faders Leader.

With our framework for becoming the best Artist, Shepherd, Priest, Educator, and Producer, you’ll learn to slide each Fader up or down as Love requires you in each moment of leadership. The relatable stories gained from years of coaching worship teams in every kind of setting give you profound insight and step-by-step advice. You’ll learn how to become the healthy expression of your main Fader, build a culture of honor on your team to bring out the best in everyone, and be the most effective leader in the ever-changing landscape of ministry. Whether you’re looking to relieve frustration, increase confidence, or outlast change, this book offers the tools to become a Five Faders Leader.

-Dave Helmuth
(purchase my book, "Worship Fertilizer: (the first hundred)" HERE)

Don’t Be Nitpicky (Nº 424)