Great team dynamics is one of those areas that everyone desires, but few intentionally venture into. I’ve discovered that most people just hope that their team dynamics will work itself out. That rarely happens because everyone sees the dynamics through their own perspective. That’s fine in one sense, because that’s all anyone has – their own perspective – but not fine because everyone’s perspective is hugely different.
Truth is, we all want to be on the same page when it comes to team dynamics.
Often there’s a disconnect between different groups – between musicians and singers, onstage and sound engineers; and between various members if we don’t work purposely at relationships. No one sets out to disconnect intentionally. It’s just a by-product of not being purposeful in creating healthy team dynamics! If left alone, good team dynamics will drift and disperse people, rather than galvanise and
No one sets out to disconnect intentionally. It’s just a by-product of not being purposeful in creating healthy team dynamics!
The challenge is, that most people today are time poor, so we come to church, play, sing, do sound and AV, lead etc and don’t interact in such a way that builds community, or keeps us on the same page. There’s often frustration for a whole range of reasons that never gets sorted or spoken about (except under our breath!) that could be so easily worked through, because here’s what I’ve learned…
People don’t know what they don’t know!
… so you have to tell them!
Sounds like an obvious statement to make, but many people assume that everyone knows what they know, act as they act, values what they value, and understand what is needed like they do. It’s just not so, because people don’t know what people don’t know. It’s up to each group to graciously articulate their needs to another, and to understand that sometimes compromise is the oil that removes the squeak!
It’s therefore vital to articulate the purpose and values that create the seed-bed for great team dynamics, and so that a team doesn’t just work well, but loves each other and provides unbridled ministry.
Here’s some ideas that will form a firm foundation, and will give a great framework for people to lean on.
- Have a common purpose. If everyone knows what the single purpose is of the worship team, then, despite your various roles, you have a single place that you can constantly refer to. This purpose needs to be communicated constantly and consistently as people drift. Yep… it’s like vision.
- Have the culture you want. Every system of people – family, team, workplace, sports club etc – has a culture. Most often, it’s one that they inherited, have drifted towards without any intentionality or maybe copied from another group. In worship teams, we can have the culture we choose to have, so sit down with some team leaders, and figure out carefully & prayerfully, what you want to see in your culture. It may include issues like being oni time; knowing your material; communicating with your team leader; upping your skills; honouring others and more.
- Share your interpersonal needs. There is such an unknown between onstage and off stage team members, that the gulf feels huge. The gap is most often physical – you’re at the front, and they are at the back, but often it’s knowledge that hold people back. They actually don’t know what is best practice for some things, or that what they do on stage effects people.
- Establish clear protocols... Might include things like: when to start rehearsing, what time to turn up, how to treat the microphones, what set up requires, etc. You don’t want to make it heavy, but clear.
- Enjoy each other’s company – that means, no new songs, no talk about worship, no agenda other than just be together and get to know each other more deeply.
- Pray together. I know that the team on stage will often pray without the AV team because they are still working away, getting other aspects of the service happening once rehearsal is complete. I get it There’s lots to do… but we need to pray for each other and pray as a team because we have a single purpose and we need to pray around that purpose.
There’s always more that we can do to foster healthy team dynamics and it’s only as strong as each person is willing to give themselves to practice what is necessary, not just to maintain great worship team dynamics, but to forge strong bonds and celebrate together, everything that God is doing through their ministry.
Be intentional. Take the initiative. Consider what a healthy team dynamic looks like. Teach each other with love and grace.
What would you like to see grow in your team dynamics? What do you do to stir up one another to love and good deeds (Hebrews 10:24?