Seven Things You Need To Build a Healthy and Growing Team – Part One

28 Mar Seven Things You Need To Build a Healthy and Growing Team – Part One

The world runs on teams. We encounter teams every day. Every person on the planet is on a team or in a group; sales teams, sports teams, oil companies, school systems, business bureaus, non-profits, political campaigns, law firms, cliques, gangs, families, friend groups, churches, ministries… and even worship teams.

The culture of those teams are important. Think about an NFL team that could make it to the Superbowl, but never does for some reason. That reason could be a bad coach, lack of skill, lack of strength, or lack of support, etc. What is it that they’re missing? What are the components that make a great team? How do you, as a leader, raise up healthy and growing people, that make up a healthy and growing team?

I think about these questions often.

The answer to those questions lie in Biblical building blocks, that if implemented, will catalyze the personal development of team members, as well as, overall team growth.

There are 7 primary things you need to build a healthy and growing team; Vision, Trust, Humility, Communication, Appreciation, Discipleship, and a Culture of Grace. This list is by no means all-inclusive or exhaustive; there are other things that make teams great. However, I believe that these 7 things are proven to be crucial elements of successful teams and groups. This blog is written for both leaders of a team, as well as, members of a team.

For now, let’s address the first 3 things:

1.  VISION

Vision is vital to the health and life of a team. Where there is no vision, people perish. (Proverbs 29:18) If the vision of a team is unclear or not communicated, it can cause confusion, dissension, frustration and unmet expectations. It is important to know the vision and mission of your church, ministry, and team.

I am thankful to be a part of a church and movement of churches that is very vision-driven. Our Every Nation Campus worship team in Midland/Odessa operates under the vision and mission of Every Nation Ministries, Mid-Cities Community Church, Every Nation Campus, and Mid-Cities Worship.

Mid-Cities Community Church’s mission is Reaching, Growing, Sending and our values are to be Intentional, Authentic and Spirit-led.

Every Nation’s mission is; We exist to honor God by establishing Christ-centered, Spirit-empowered, socially responsible churches and campus ministries in every nation.

Similarly, our Every Nation Campus values are the 5 Es: Engage, Establish, Equip, Empower, Expand.

These vision and mission statements help craft and guide our ENC worship team. We know what we are doing, why we are doing it, and how we will do it. It is crucial for a team to operate under the right vision. In addition, the leader of the team must continually develop strategies, evaluate short and long term goals, and refine the process of how the team is to express the vision and mission practically.

Practical Application:

Where is your team going? Do you know how to get there? Do you know why you are going? Who are you bringing with you? What do they need to be able to live out the vision? How can you better articulate the vision? How can your life better reflect the vision of your church and team? What strategies or goals does your team need?

Remind your team of why we do what we do; and Who we do it for. Vision leaks…

2.  TRUST

We need Trust in order to build healthy and growing teams. Joey Bonifacio, in his book The LEGO Principle, articulates why:

“We’re teaching people to learn to grow in their trust of God so they can enjoy His holy presence and the holy life He has ordained for us. We are also teaching them to learn to grow in trusting one another in order to win the world’s trust.”

As worship leaders, we seek to develop trust with our team members, between our team members, and with our congregation.

Our teams need to know that they can trust us as leaders; that we care about them and will do what we say. Leaders also need to know that we can trust our team members; confident that they are committed to the vision and mission of the team.

Building trust with the congregation is critical. We want to make sure that our exhortations, song choices and prayers are biblical, and that we accurately represent God and His word.

“Trust is something that progressively grows.” -Joey Bonifacio

Practical Application:

Is there unity on the team? Is there a need for repentance, forgiveness or reconciliation between team members? Do you keep your word and do what you say you will do? (Learn songs, respond to PCO, be at rehearsal on time, etc.) Does your leader trust you? Does your team trust you? What can you do to build trust? How will you create an atmosphere and culture of trust?

3,  HUMILITY

The definition of the word, “humility,” according to Merriam-Webster is, “the quality or state of not thinking you are better than other people; the quality or state of being humble.” This attribute is vital in building a healthy and growing team.

An important indicator of whether or not someone has humility, is whether or not they are TEACHABLE. I don’t know about you, but teachability is something that I look for in a team member from the very beginning. If someone is humble and willing to grow and develop, then you will be able to build with them, instead of having to expend effort to teach them how to be willing to grow themselves first.

Practical Application:

Have you decided in your heart to serve? Are you seeking to please people or to please God? Do you serve in order to receive, or to give? Are you willing to do the things that other people don’t want to do? Are you willing to lay down your preferences to honor someone else? Are you willing to lay down your dreams/vision to help make someone else’s dream/vision a reality? Are you choosing to be a team player?

“Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.” -Philippians 2:3

TO BE CONTINUED…

PART TWO of “7 Things You Need To Build a Healthy & Growing Team” coming next week!

Kristin Basom is an Every Nation Campus Missionary at Mid-Cities. She loves serving alongside her husband, Will (ENC Director at Mid-Cities), at Midland College, UTPB and Texas Tech. She is Director over the ENC worship team, and passionately develops leaders, disciples women and evangelizes on the college campus.