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

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

3. — John Maxwell, The 17 Indisputable Laws of Teamwork
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

4. — George Barna, The Power of Team Leadership
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

5. 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

6. Selected Sources
George Barna, The Power of Team Leadership

7. Selected Sources
Lawrence Holpp, Managing Teams

8. Selected Sources
John Maxwell, The 17 Indisputable Laws of Teamwork

9. Selected Sources
Pat Williams, The Magic of Teamwork

10. 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

11. 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)

12. Seven Things A Team Is NOT!
Team Myths
Seven Things A Team Is NOT!

13. 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

14. 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.

15. 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 directions
May suffer from identity crisis/ different values
First to split up when trouble hits

16. What Teams DO Require Teams require common . . . Values Vision
Respect for each other

17. 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)

18. 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!

19. 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 = ?

20. 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.”

21. Developing Effective Church Teams

22. sunergew = partnership
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 = partnership
sun + ergos

23. 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

24. A Developmental Truth
“Every leader is capable of building his or her own kingdom dream team. Really.”
-- Hybels, p. 79

25. Pulling Together A Team
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

26. Pulling Together A Team
Establish clear criteria for team members
Character first: Is he/she godly and trustworthy?
Competence: Is he/she able?
Chemistry: Does he/she fit the rest of the team?

27. Character First Commitment to essential spiritual disciplines
Evidence of honesty, teachability, humility, reliability, a godly work-ethic, willingness to be entreated

28. Competence Aim high! Look for a striving to excel Look for “potential”
1 Corinthians 10:24
Colossians 3:23, 24
Ecclesiastes 9:10
Look for “potential”

29. Chemistry “Having a positive emotional effect” in your presence
A result more than a characteristic
The right “fit”
Seek a “balanced” fit

30. Pulling Together A Team
Look “inside” first (The “In-House” Principle)
At past effective working groups or teams
To those people you already depend on
To those recommended by previous and reliable team members
To those who are already using their gifts and talents effectively

31. Pulling Together A Team
Build community
Doesn’t just “happen”
Do retreats with “community-enhancing” exercises (cf. p. 87ff)
The “Hot Seat” Exercise
The “Tombstone Epitaph” Exercise

32. Achieving Full Team Potential

33. Toward Team Effectiveness
Become a more effective team leader
Deepen team “community”
Establish clear team goals
Reward team achievement

34. 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

35. 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

36. Deepen Team Community Set relational goals
Do “community-enhancing” retreats and exercises (p. 87ff)
Watch for signs of community “disconnect” and effect repairs

37. Establish Clear Goals Challenging God-honoring S-M-A-R-T Specific
Measurable
Attainable
Realistic
Time-bound

38. Reward Appropriately Publicly Privately Significantly In the team
In the entire church body (Example p. 91)
Privately
From your own resources
Significantly

39. A Team Self-Test www.LawsOfTeam-work.com
John Maxwell’s 17 Laws of Teamwork

41. A Sample Printout

42. Your Turn
Q&A

43. Next Time: The Resource Challenge
“The Test of A Leader’s Mettle”
(Chapter 5)