Throughout my life I've been on many teams. As a kid, I was on: football teams, T-Ball teams, and baseball teams. As an adult, I have joined and worked on many teams as well: custodial team, Kohl's department store team, block-layer construction team, after-school kid's program team, high school security team, and 2 different church ministry staff teams.
However, out of all the teams I have been on, I've wondered, how many of those teams were truly effective teams. Do you know what I mean? So, I've been thinking lately about the question, "What makes a great (healthy and productive) team?" I know there is many things that make up a healthy and productive team, however, I want to deal with just one.
The ONE THING that helps build a healthy and productive team; is a diligent effort to enhance the effectiveness of team communication. John Maxwell says, "show me a healthy team, and I'll show you a team that talks to one another."
Since I am now on a church ministry staff team, this is an example of effective team communication:
Lead Pastor to Staff Communication
- CONSISTENCY - communicate the vision, mission, values, and direction of the organization on a consistent basis to your staff (the staff does not need to be on a roller coaster ride).
- CLARITY - The Lead pastor should always strive for clarity in communication.
- COURTESY - Lead pastors should always be KIND in your direction with your team (Never use your position wrongly).
Staff to Lead Pastor Communication
- RESPECT- show respect to the person leading.
- LOYALTY- This is hard for many Gen X'ers, however, show loyalty to the one leading.
- DIRECTNESS/HONESTY - Are you telling the leader what he wants to here? or Are you telling her what she needs to here?
Staff to Staff Communication
- BE SUPPORTIVE - Learn to help each other out (try not to be so departmental).
- BE CURRENT- be current in your communication with each other (your working on a project with each other...make sure your talking regularly).
- BE VULNERABLE - To gain trust you have to be real!
- DESIGNATE A COMMUNICATIONS CENTER(for some it is the ADMIN. ASST. where everyone can check in).
Staff to Congregation Communication
- HAVE ONE VOICE - have unity together as a team (especially when it comes to key decisions, or tough calls).
Congregation to Staff Communication
- RECEPTIVITY- Staff should be responsive and listen to people (some church leaders are horrible at truly listening) -
- CALL PEOPLE BACK - church staff leaders can be really bad at calling people in their congregation back (yes, me too!)
- REALISM- when people in your congregation comes with ideas or criticism, just be realistic with their ideas or complaints (don't take things personally, or think you have to act on every idea).