Effective Christian Leadership (6) Building A Kingdom Dream Team.

Effective ChristianEffective ChristianLeadership (6)Leadership (6)

Building AKingdom Dream

Team

Opening Question

What does it mean to be part of an effective, fully functioning “dream team?”

Team Quotes

“The truth is that teamwork is at the heart of great achievement. The question isn’t whether teams have value. The question is whether we acknowledge that fact and become better team

players. . . It may be a cliché, but it is nonetheless true: Individuals play the game, but

teams win championships.”

— John Maxwell, The 17 Indisputable Laws of Teamwork

Team Quotes

“The story of the church, as depicted in the book of Acts, is one of a community of faith directed by

a team of leaders working together toward a common vision. Had the church relied upon a

single, incredibly gifted, magnetic individual to replace Jesus, the church would surely have

collapsed.”

— George Barna, The Power of Team Leadership

Team Quotes

“Moses . . . chose capable men from all Israel and made them leaders of the people, officials over

thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens.”

— Exodus 18:25

“Calling the Twelve to him, he sent them out two by two and gave them authority over evil spirits.”

— Mark 6:7

Selected Sources

George Barna, The Power of Team Leadership

Selected Sources

Lawrence Holpp, Managing Teams

Selected Sources

John Maxwell, The 17 Indisputable Laws of Teamwork

Selected Sources

Pat Williams, The Magic of Teamwork

Why Teams?

Unrealistic leadership expectations in congregations today . . .– 87% expect motivation to get involved– 78% expect resolution of conflicts– 77% expect direction to take– 75% expect training of more leaders– 63% expect a compelling vision– 56% expect day-to-day management

Why Teams?

Continual decline in leadership overall

Congregations demanding more Jesus and the early church model

support team ministry Team model recurs in

creation/nature (biotic principles)

Team MythsTeam Myths

Seven Things A Team Is NOT!

Myth #1

“A team is simply a group of gifted individuals who work together.”

REALITY: Teamwork requires cohesion and complementary use of gifts, personalities, talents working together toward a common vision or goal.

A B

Myth #2

“A team is any group of people working toward a common goal.”

REALITY: Definition is too broad. A group of people building a garage may be a work-group, but not necessarily a team. A committee is not necessarily a team.

Myth #3

“A team requires people who like each other.”

REALITY: Many superb teams exist in church and society whose members may not really like each other. “Feeling good” about team members is not sufficient—Could waste resources/different directionsMay suffer from identity crisis/ different valuesFirst to split up when trouble hits

What Teams DO Require

Teams require common . . .– Values– Vision– Respect for

each other

Myth #4

“A team does not need a leader since the team makes the plays or decisions.”

REALITY: Leadership makes the difference between two equally talented teams. While everyone on the team is important, not everyone is equal!

“I side strongly with those who believe that the most crucial factor in a team’s performance is the effectiveness of its clearly defined leader.” (Hybels, p. 86)

Myth #5

“A winning team comes from just having the right individuals moving toward a common vision or goal.”

REALITY: A winning team comes from having the right individuals in the right places doing the right things!

Myth #6

“A good team compensates for its weakest member by having the more able or stronger members pick up the slack.”

REALITY: A team is only as strong as its weakest link. Five working “10s” far outpaces four “10s” and a “5.”

10 x 10 x 10 x 10 x 10 = ?10 x 10 x 10 x 10 x 5 = ?

Myth #7

“The most gifted or talented or most godly team member should lead the team.”

REALITY: Three points . . .• The challenge of the moment often

determines the leader for that challenge.• While character is foundational, skill is also

required.• Great teams have great depth, requiring

good “supporters” as well as good “starters.”

Developing Developing EffectiveEffective

Church TeamsChurch Teams

A Working Definition

“An effective ministry or church team is a group of people who synergistically work toward a clear, compelling, God-given vision.”

Synergy creates chemistry!

sunergew = partnershipsun + ergos

Another Definition

“Carrying people in my heart while we minister together, and being carried in their hearts as well, is what it means to be on a ‘dream team.’”

--Hybels, p. 76

A Developmental Truth

“Every leader is capable of building his or her own kingdom dream team. Really.”

-- Hybels, p. 79

Pulling Together A Team

1. Define the team’s purpose– With “ruthless specificity”– Does the ministry task call for

complex decision making? = LEADERSHIP TEAM

– Is the ministry a specialty area requiring a special gift? = SPECIALIZED TEAM

– What do we want this particular team to accomplish? = Results-orientation

Pulling Together A Team

2. Establish clear criteria for team members

2. Character first: Is he/she godly and trustworthy?

3. Competence: Is he/she able?4. Chemistry: Does he/she fit the rest

of the team?

Character First

Commitment to essential spiritual disciplines

Evidence of honesty, teachability, humility, reliability, a godly work-ethic, willingness to be entreated

Competence

Aim high! Look for a striving

to excel– 1 Corinthians 10:24– Colossians 3:23, 24– Ecclesiastes 9:10

Look for “potential”

Chemistry

“Having a positive emotional effect” in your presence

A result more than a characteristic

The right “fit” Seek a “balanced”

fit

Pulling Together A Team

3. Look “inside” first (The “In-House” Principle)

3. At past effective working groups or teams

4. To those people you already depend on

5. To those recommended by previous and reliable team members

6. To those who are already using their gifts and talents effectively

Pulling Together A Team

4. Build community– Doesn’t just “happen”– Do retreats with “community-

enhancing” exercises (cf. p. 87ff)• The “Hot Seat” Exercise• The “Tombstone Epitaph” Exercise

Achieving Full Team Achieving Full Team PotentialPotential

Toward Team Effectiveness

Become a more effective team leader

Deepen team “community” Establish clear team goals Reward team achievement

Effective Team Leadership

Keep team focused on the mission

Put right people with right gifts and talents in right positions

Maximize every team member’s contribution

Effective Team Leadership

Distribute the work load evenly– So that morale stays high; burnout

low Communicate—communicate—

communicate! Assess and raise the level of “community” within the team

Deepen Team Community

Set relational goals Do “community-

enhancing” retreats and exercises (p. 87ff)

Watch for signs of community “disconnect” and effect repairs

Establish Clear Goals

Challenging God-honoring S-M-A-R-T

– Specific– Measurable– Attainable– Realistic– Time-bound

Reward Appropriately

Publicly– In the team– In the entire church body (Example

p. 91) Privately

– From your own resources Significantly

A Team Self-Test

www.LawsOfTeam-work.com

John Maxwell’s 17 Laws of Teamwork

A Sample Printout

Your Turn

Q&A

Next Time:Next Time:The Resource The Resource

ChallengeChallenge

“The Test of A Leader’s Mettle”

(Chapter 5)