There’s no getting around the need for tactile knowledge of AVL systems for someone in a production lead role. Likely, you’re an expert in just one of those areas with a working knowledge of the others, or you’re like me—a generalist who’s willing to do some homework when needed. Either way, no production leader could do their job without the basic skills needed to complete it, but being a production leader requires skills that are usually intangible.
Today, I want to talk about one skill in particular: peace.
This might be the hardest one for some of us, mostly because our equipment loves to break and we’re always working with volunteers who, however well-meaning, can be forgetful and unfocused. It comes with our particular territory, working with small budgets that pay for reasonable but not super-reliable gear and relying on volunteer teams that have a lot of other things going on besides church on the weekends. All of that uncertainty can lead to an unpeaceful environment.
I struggled with that for a long time, trying to find and walk with peace in an often unpeaceful environment. It led me into a place of anxiety and constant fear. Maybe you’re there too, often worried about who’s not going to show up or what’s going to break. How can you bring peace when things are bent on being unpeaceful?
Understand this is not all on you.
I’m thankful for therapists and particularly thankful for therapists who walk in concert with the Holy Spirit, those skilled practicians who can work from established principles of psychology and then walk people like me into places of deeper spirituality. One of my therapists did just that as we talked through my anxieties surrounding my job. He gave me a scripture from Zechariah—“...not by might, not by power, but by My Spirit…” That scripture helped me understand that I wasn’t doing this alone or for myself. I am a co-laborer with Christ and he is working beside me, for me, and even ahead of me.
As much as I carry the responsibility to lead my team, the Holy Spirit carries it more so, and he has been and is still gracious to me as I learn.
Make practical steps to peace
If your gear is constantly breaking down, ask for budget to upgrade. If the answer is no, then your leadership understands where you’re at, and if they’re worth their salt, they’ll be gracious with you when things go awry due to bad equipment.
If you have unreliable team members, you need to do one of two things.
First, you can simply plan accordingly. Don’t assign them to positions that are mission-critical or to services that are high-profile and require a high level of excellence. I understand that not all of us have that sort of flexibility, and that’s ok. Do your best, but do as much as you can to alleviate the strain an unreliable team member puts on you.
Second, they may need to be removed from the team. This doesn’t have to be a harsh conversation, but a simple and direct “I don’t think this is working out,” may be needed. You should have a few conversations before this about attendance or focus or whatever the problem is; you don’t want to remove them suddenly without warning. But if you’ve had those conversations and they haven’t changed, can’t change, or are otherwise unwilling to change, it’s time for them to go. Let your leadership know, preferably in person and with a follow-up email so that everything is well documented. In fact, anytime you have a corrective conversation with any team member, you should summarize the conversation in an email that you send to yourself so that you have supporting documentation in case things get hairy down the road.
It’s never fun. I’ve only had to do it twice in my decade-plus of leading production teams. Much is to be said for patience and gentle correction, but sometimes there’s nothing else you can do and you have cut ties for the health of your team. To that end, take some time to read Necessary Endings by Dr. Henry Cloud to know when it’s the right time to remove a team member.
Peace comes from inside of you
You have to find the peace of Christ yourself, and that process can be a bit of journey. Sometimes it’s as simple as some reflection and prayer; other times it’s going to look like some soul-searching conversations with a trusted friend or spiritual director, and other times you might need some therapy. But if you are constantly working from a place of anxiety, you will create a culture of anxiety. How can you bring peace if you have no peace to bring?
A great place to start is Managing Leadership Anxiety: Yours and Theirs by Steve Cuss. He walks readers through how to find the broken places within themselves that need the Holy Spirit’s help to create peace. Perhaps the book will be all you’ll need, or maybe you’ll need to add some of the other things I mentioned above, but you have find peace within yourself before you can give it to your team.
A prayer for peace
Lord, I need your peace, and I surrender to the process that leads me to your peace. Thank you for the help of your Spirit as I work alongside Jesus for this gospel harvest. Help me to untangle my anxious heart so that I can bring peace to my team and show them how to walk in the ways of your peace.
Amen.
