WORSHIP LEADERS
HOW TO BE LOVED (AND RESPECTED) BY YOUR TEAM, PART 2 | Jon Nicol
If you're a worship ministry leader: you're in just as a guitarist, soprano, drummer, bassist, them, “I respect you enough to make the most
a weird space. First, you're leading a team of sound engineer, etc. of the time you're investing.”
all volunteers. Second, these people are part
of your church family (and more than a few 7) ALWAYS SHARE CREDIT And when you run rehearsals efficiently, you
are probably good friends). Third, each week, There's nothing worse than working your tail can do the next one more easily:
your “job performance” is on display in front of off only to have someone else get the credit. dozens, hundreds, or thousands of people. And That's how too many worship team members 10) MAKE TIME FOR RELATIONSHIPS
fourth, "Oh by the way it's not a performance, feel when their leaders are the ones recognized As a task and achievement-oriented person, I
it's worship." As I said, you're in a weird space. and applauded. look back at my early ministry years and realize
relationships too often came in dead last. Sure,
Each week, you navigate multiple tensions So shamelessly share credit. Make it a habit we had fun, but my friendship and camaraderie
from multiple sides. Too often, your leadership that whenever anyone compliments the quality with my team was only ankle deep.
role collides with your shepherding role. And of the music or service to thank that person, but both of those roles can be at odds with your then quickly bring your team into the limelight. It's important to be ready for Sunday, but don't
friendship role. And the highly visible role you And encourage that person to say the same forget that Jesus was all about the journey.
and your team play in the church only serves to thing to your team members. So, find ways to enjoy the people walking on
complicate things. So, I want to help you with
that tension.
the path with you. Don't just make it all about
Also, when it's appropriate, publicly thank your
getting to your setlist destination.
team in front of the congregation and share how
In the last issue, I gave you the first five hard the team works to create your gathered For this last year, I've been almost entirely off
leadership lessons to help you walk this worship experience week after week. the stage after handing off the leadership of my
tightrope: you want your team to like you and
team to a young successor. And I can tell you
enjoy being around you, but you also want to 8) ADMIT YOUR MISTAKES that the thousand plus worship sets I led up
be respected as the leader and get results. So, Your team members don't want to be led by to that point don't mean anything to me when
let's pick up with the second half of these ten an insecure, self-deprecating goof-off. But they compared to the relationships that were forged
leadership lessons. also don't want to follow someone who's overly through the tension of leading, shepherding,
confident (read: arrogant) and can't laugh at and cultivating friendships.
6) VALUE MORE THAN THEIR MUSICAL VALUE him/herself. Be the first to laugh at whatever People need to know three things when it mistakes you make. And if it's the kind of So as a worship ministry leader, yeah, you are in
comes to their value. First, they need to know mistake that hurts another person, be quick to a weird space. But lean into the tension of that
that what they do is significant to the ministry. own it. space—that space that allows you to make
Remind them of how critical their role is and
great music, worship God and encourage
how they help create the gathered worship Your team has a tremendous capacity for grace others to worship God, but while doing so build
experience on Sunday. (they are made in the image of God, after all). deep and abiding friendships. And you’re going
Be real with them. Transparency and humility to find that being loved and respected by your
The second thing people need to know is that are contagious, especially when it starts with team is just a by-product of going out of your
their contribution is valued by the leader. They the leader. way to love and respect them.
they need to hear from you how much you 9) RESPECT THEIR TIME Lean into that weird tension. I can tell you
value their contribution. Most worship team members are busy without reservation that it's worth it.
might know they bring value to the team, but
volunteers, but they’re passionate about what
And the third thing they need to know? That they do. Unfortunately, that passion can turn to
they're valued for more than just their musical resentment when they feel their time is being
value. Each of our team members need to know wasted. When you run rehearsals, meetings,
you love and appreciate them as a person, not and other team events efficiently, that says to
62
November 2019
Jon Nicol
Jon’s the founder of WorshipWorkshop.com and
WorshipTeamCoach.com, two sites that help worship
leaders build strong teams and lead engaging
worship. He lives and serves in Lexington, Ohio with
his wife Shannon and their four kids.
WorshipWorkshop.com
WorshipTeamCoach.com
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