"The odds are slim that a team will do a good job..."
Ouch! Not exactly the most encouraging sentence you could ever read. Also, if you have been on many teams or committees the statement may ring a little true.
Most churches, including ours, are structured around teams and committees. Which is why I picked up Teams that Thrive by Ryan Hartwig and Warren Bird.
The book identifies several keys to a successful team --
1) Teams make decisions.
Healthy teams don't just give reports or make lists of what is wrong. Teams that thrive change the status quo.
2) Teams make decisions that matter.
Strong teams aren't frustrated by big or complicated problems, they are energized by them. The problems are why they exist and why they have been given leadership.
In fact, teams will struggle if there isn't a situation waiting for them to make a difference.
3) Teams make decisions that matter, with the entire church in mind.
This is a big factor in my experience. Teams must think and act beyond their own circle, preference, or constituency and focus on the overall health and purpose of the church.
A few other highlights from the book included a list of reasons that teams fail sometimes --
#1 Everything is a priority, so nothing is a priority.
#5 Absence of Godly character among the team. (A little low on list for me.)
#6 Confusion over the team's purpose.
#8 Dysfunctional team communication practices.
I certainly have "been there, and felt that!" I have often struggled as a leader with #1 on that list.
I picked up this book with the effectiveness of our Ministry Council in mind. But by the end of the book, I was certain this would be a helpful resource to all of our teams at Valley.
In your experience what has been a key to a great team?
Your pastor,
Tim
