How many times have we heard (or used) the phrase, “If you want it done right, you have to do it yourself?” This may work for an independent contractor, but it doesn't work for the local church. As creatives in the local church, we must understand the value of relationships. A number of years ago, a good friend gave me a framed picture from Last Days Ministries entitled, “Who cares?” On the back of the frame he wrote the words, “Never let the means become the end.” I have kept that picture for the past 20 years. It has survived every move. Those words have never left me. I think often of what is “the means” and what is “the end.” We always have to identify the result that we are trying to achieve.
It is easy for us to get focused on building a large ministry and mistake that for our goal. While there is nothing wrong with building a large ministry, if that is “the end,” then the only way that we can accomplish that is to use people as “the means.” If we change the desired outcome to be building people, then we can use ministry as the vehicle used to accomplish the vision. I totally understand that relationships take time, but the result is more than worth the investment.
In 2013, Matt Stafford, Detroit Lions quarterback signed a contract extension, but his approach to negotiating the contract was much different than we typically see in the National Football League. Stafford said he wants to be mindful that under the NFL's salary cap, every dollar the Lions spend on him is a dollar they can't spend on another player. And Stafford says he wants to play with a lot of good teammates. “I want talent around me, frankly,” Stafford told the team's website. “You see guys breaking records with how much they're making and all that stuff, and honestly, you want fair market value, but I don't really care about breaking records too much. I want to break records on the field. I want to win games and have as many good players around me as I possibly can.” Matthew Stafford understands the importance of surrounding himself with a great team.
What are some of the hinderances to building relationships on our teams?
1.The perfectionist - There is a difference between excellence and perfection. Perfection can't be attained, while excellence is doing the best you can with the available resources. Being a perfectionist in ministry can have some major downsides:
•Lack of buy-in - When dealing with a perfectionist, ministry volunteers can be made to feel as though their ideas don't matter causing them to disconnect.
•Miss the big picture - By not involving others in the process, a perfectionist can be rigid in their process and stick to only what they know. Engaging others can help us see a situation from a new angle.
•The team can feel micro-managed - We all know that this is not a recipe for good team morale
•Hinder growth - If we have to be in the middle of every decision, ultimately, we will slow up the process and stifle fresh ideas
2. Isolation - There are many great leaders who are introverts. There are also many terrible leaders who are extroverts. How you “recharge” is not as much of the issue as is isolation. If we can't connect with people, our ministry will suffer as a result.
3. Small Thinking - If we think we have hit the pinnacle of success or that we don't need any more people in our ministry, we will hinder relationships and involvement.
It is essential that we recognize that ministry is relationships. For us to develop people, it takes an investment in others. I hear many leaders talk about wanting to increase their influence but fail to recognize that it begins with connection. Proverbs 18:24 says that “A man who has friends must himself be friendly.” Here are several strategies for building great relationships with our team:
1.Be inclusive, not exclusive - Cultivate an environment where people can get involved. If they feel that there is no place for them or that they aren't needed, they will eventually disconnect and leave.
2.Provide training - Invite a tech director from a local church to come and speak to your team. This will not only benefit your team, but also allow you to connect with other ministry leaders in your area.
3.Schedule a team night - Team Nights are a great opportunity to cast vision and keep everyone on the same page. This will also allow opportunities for connection between tech and worship teams.
4.Get input - As leaders, we don't have to be a “know it all”.
5.Be an encourager - This is the most important thing we can do as a leader. By encouraging others, we are investing in them as individuals. A volunteer will never complain about receiving too much encouragement. The leader who encourages, will always attract others. If you are not naturally an encourager, this is a skill that can be developed.
What is your “means to an end?” Is your focus on building a ministry or building people? We truly are better together. I challenge you to be a builder of people and resist the temptation to “go it alone”.