No matter how great an individual player you are, your relationship with your team can make you or break you.
I’ve always loved being a part of a team. I love team sports because it’s fun to compete—but it’s even more fun to be a member of the team. I also love playing in bands. The reason I have had as many as five different children’s church bands at one time is so I’ll always have a place to play guitar. I keep a guitar with me most all the time. I love to play every chance I get, but there is nothing that comes close to the joy of playing in a band. A band is more than a group of musicians; it’s all about teamwork.
Teamwork is also important at church. I have had the chance to be on staff at four wonderful churches. I’ll be honest—some of my most favorite memories of these churches have been related to being a part of these teams. There is a lot of hard work assembling and developing a team. The growth and goals we were able to achieve could not have been accomplished without ministers and ministries working together. But as great as it is to be a part of a team, some of my most frustrating moments in life have come from being a part of a team that did not function well. My least favorite times in ministry have occurred while on staffs made up of people that were all doing their own thing and not functioning as a team. Churches can become so departmental that we don’t work together as a team.
My favorite definition of a team is Together Everyone Achieves More! It’s plain that a team can accomplish more than an individual. Yet many staff ministers still insist on doing things themselves rather than understanding their role to help build a strong team. I believe in the importance of children’s ministry in the local church, but children’s ministry—as important as it is—makes up just one part of what the Lord is doing in the church to reach people of all ages. Not only do you have a responsibility to follow your coach’s lead, but also as a team player you have a responsibility to lead your peers or teammates.
Here are four things you should be doing to influence and lead your fellow teammates and help move the team forward.
1. Be On the Ball!
A team player must be alert of what’s going on and able to assess the situation for themselves and the team. A team player puts the goals, needs and good of the team first, rather than individual goals, wants, and needs. Each member of the team must value the team. Never forget that you are a part, not the whole enchilada. Respect and esteem every member of the team. Every ministry in the church, every team member, and every team leader are important to the success of the church. Be considerate of others. Ask yourself, “How do my actions affect others I serve on staff with?” Be observant of hard times, challenges, and setbacks that others experience. Come to their aid, willingly and quickly. Sow seeds of eagerness to help. Look for ways to lighten their load even when no one asks you to help. A team is only as strong as its weakest member. Each person on the team must learn to value what each team member does.
2. Give A Lot!
Let your teammates slam-dunk while you take an assist. Rejoice in the abilities and accomplishments of those around you. An excellent team player chooses to prefer others to excel. Their motto is: “It doesn’t matter who gets the credit.” Never complain, but seek opportunities to motivate others. Don’t be negative. You cannot maintain a winning attitude and be negative. Being positive is a choice! A team player compliments others and hand out praise. In ministry we can’t control every event, but we can control our responses to them. Keep your motives pure. Don’t seek the approval or praise of man. Do your best—even when you go unnoticed. Always ask, “What’s best for the team?” Never be too busy to help others. The team that gives a lot accomplishes a lot.
3. Over-Communicate!
Let those who need to know, know what’s going on. No surprises ever—because surprises hurt the team. Let those around you know what’s happening, as well as those above you and under you. The military calls this the need to know. Talk with the team; build a relationship with other staff members and teammates. Choose to spend time with your peers; remember, relationships take time to build. Invest in others; it’s never the wrong thing to do. Admit when you need help. Be teachable and open to correction, discipline, and advice—all are indicators of openness toward communication. And not just from the level of leadership above you, but from your fellow staff members. Don’t take things personal. A good communicator is also a good listener. Determined to learn from everybody, a leader is a learner who listens.
4. Do Your Job!
Do what you uniquely know to do. Be on the ball, give a lot, over-communicate, and do your job. Great basketball teams know how to do this, so do great staff members. They keep the ball moving till someone has the opportunity to score. At the same time they never forget who’s the shooter, who’s the rebounder, and who’s covering whom. A team player understands his or her role and does it with all their might, without being jealous or envious of other members. A valuable team player must possess knowledge of the game, along with passion to learn more. In other words, he or she is always a student. You must constantly earn and re-earn the right to be a starter; it doesn’t matter how well you have played in the past—you must play well now. Remember 2 Timothy 2:15: “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.” It’s imperative to know and follow the game plan, a big part of this working together. Know your job or position. Always be loyal to your coaches as well as the team. You can be a leader to the rest of the team by setting the right example in your attitude, your thinking and your actions!
The best teams in the world review and evaluate constantly, both corporately and individually. This applies to the accomplishments and the mistakes. With the latter, take blame but never assign any. Never talk bad about teammates at anytime. Maintain an authentic desire to share any victories together. Value your team and you’ll enjoy the value of teamwork first hand. Every ministry and ministry leader is important to the overall success of your local church.
Look back over all the points made in this article, and honestly assess yourself, your motivations, and your actions. If you’ve been thinking and/or acting as an individual instead of a team player, then make the choice to team up!
Jim Wideman is a Children’s Ministry and Church Growth Consultant with over 30 years experience in leading excellent ministries in the local church. To find out more about Jim’s services and materials check out www.jimwideman.com.
Copyright © 2007 Promiseland.
