The Right Team

Jay Hostetler, January 18, 2016

After a weekend of watching NFL Divisional playoff games, I am convinced that football is truly a team sport. At this time of the year teams are going deep into the depth chart to replace injured players. It is an opportunity for athletes to step up and help their team advance in the playoffs while others are out for the season. During the off season, some players will move on and next Fall the teams will look slightly different. Somewhere between my celery sticks and nachos, my mind moved to teams operating in the local church.

It is obviously rare that a church staff member has to be replaced due to injury. But there are times when the team can suffer because of a teammate that is not contributing. This is a natural time of the year to evaluate team members, assess their contribution and productivity, determine their personal satisfaction with their role, and set goals for the ministry year. Assessment is paramount to sustaining an effective team. In such a highly relational working culture as a church staff, it can be difficult or awkward for senior leadership to make the decision to “deal” with a non-producer on the team.

At MinistryWave we can provide an objective perspective on your team members’ contributions. We come without a predetermined mindset toward particular personalities on the team. With our experience in working with teams, we provide a process to analyze competence and chemistry of individuals.

Our balance of affirmation and challenge can help you determine if a team member should go or stay. Our staff assessment is flexible and custom designed for you.

We love the local church and our desire is to see the best team working together to move the church forward. Let us help you evaluate your team.

Thoughts from NFL Coach Vince T. Lombardi

“The measure of who we are is what we do with what we have.”

“People who work together will win, whether it be against complex football defenses, or the problems of modern society.”

 “Individual commitment to a group effort – that is what makes a team work, a company work, a society work, a civilization work.”

“There is no room for second place.There is only one place in my game and that is first place. I have finished second twice in my time at Green Bay and I never want to finish second again.”