LEADERSHIP
SHIFT TEAM CULTURE . . . I N
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Since your team is already uneasy, why not make even more changes?
T E A M
DY N A M I C S
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hen things are changing, making changes makes sense. No. Really. Everyone is screaming for certainty, but the best thing we can do is use that uneasy feeling to improve vital areas that leadership sees as necessary and to align more fully with the values God is communicating. Our tendency as leaders is to minimize the disequilibrium, knowing that we are in peril of losing our position. Changing culture, more than anything else, requires courage. Right now is our moment for such a sign of courage. The coronavirus pandemic is both a terrible force negatively impacting how we do church and an opportunity to change how we do church for the better. Confronting culture is part of the artist's role within society as well as within the local church. The local church is not immune to the ways of thinking that the general culture espouses, whether it fits our faith or not. Also, the local church, like any organization led by people, is prone to building a strong culture. Change aversion awakens when uncontrollable circumstances arrive. But, for those of us who are leading teams and planning, we may finally be able to make changes unheard of just months ago. Values and mindset are the keys to making even the smallest changes work for a team. Here are some cultural values rooted in experience and Scripture to introduce and adopt on your team (if you haven’t already).
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K I R K PAT R I C K
…people are what makes the tool valuable–not the other way around. MAKE WORKING TOGETHER AS RELATIONAL AS POSSIBLE. Don't assume people know that you care for them. Yes, we all cry when we lose the best vocalist or front-of-house mixer. I am talking about something a bit deeper, however. In some of our church cultures we love to fill a position, and people on worship and production teams are especially prone to finding strong identities in their roles. Community plays out in how we interact online. Every time you gather, how is each person seen as valuable beyond the skill or time they provide? Writing notes, texts, and prayers of encouragement can go a long way. Saying, "Thank you," is energizing for people who love to serve. But saying, "I care about you," can be life-giving. Change the culture to see past the gift to the hearts of your team members.
TOOLS ARE ESSENTIAL ONLY FOR HOW THEY HELP PEOPLE. Prayer, a vital activity in any ministry, can now be facilitated online. One of our leaders introduced the use of the Discord platform for the production team. Discord is an app that any smartphone or computer can download. It has channels to break up the stream into conversations that work. This tool helped us facilitate a significant cultural change: regular intervals of prayer. Praying for each other, the ministry, the leadership, and the nation keeps a team focused on the right priorities. Whether we are using Slack, or Google Suite, or Zoom, people are what makes the tool valuable–not the other way around. 42 W O R S H I P L E A D E R | W O R S H I P L E A D E R .C O M | VO L . 29, N O. 4
Every time you gather, how is each person seen as valuable beyond the skill or time they provide?
