On Podcast Episode #40, we talked about ways to change the culture of your worship ministry. Vision is important, but if your culture is working against it, moving things forward is going to be tough. We need to do all we can to make sure our ministry team culture supports the vision. You can listen to that episode here:
But for today’s post, we want to talk about seven more ways to increase an awesome and dynamic culture in your worship ministry!
WRITE IT
Documenting is a great way to start a new culture and to keep it going. When you write it down, you are creating something new and bringing in a concrete reality to something not yet known. This makes it easier for everyone to feel like they are part of the team and the culture. It helps new people catch on more quickly. But most of all, writing down your perfect scenario of team culture and ministry forces you to bring a level of clarity to how you really want things to be like among your team.
MODEL IT
Writing is important, but a document buried somewhere won’t do much until you are living it. Model the kind of culture you want to build. If you want people to respond to texts, messages and invitations, you have to start responding quickly (and thanking those who do). If you grow a culture of being on time, you want to make sure you are the first one to arrive. Model the culture you want to build.
MAKE IT RELATIONAL
Bring others along with you in the development of a great team culture. Talk with others about it, share the ownership and help people have fun with it. Improving your culture does require ownership, patience and flexibility – and you want to keep a sense of fun, otherwise it’s all work and no play. In fact, adding in some fun might be just what is needed for part of the community aspect to your ministry.
BE PRACTICAL
Take into account your team, style of church and time commitments as you approach the desire to increase the culture. You can’t change music styles, rehearsal schedules and production components overnight (usually). It requires taking practical steps that fit with your church. Being stretched isn’t bad, but don’t set such a lofty cultural change goal that you wear people down.
BE CONSISTENT
One key component is consistency. Once you begin, you keep going – stay the course for the long haul. As an example, if you are trying to incorporate other worship team members leading in out-loud prayer, begin the process and stick with it. Invite someone to pray and then do it again next week and then next week. Stick with it and it will eventually become part of your culture.
KEEP IT SIMPLE
Simplicity is key to keeping a dynamic culture going strong. It’s always good to get back to the basics. We are a worship team, helping to usher this local congregation into the presence of God. This year we are working on this ______ and ________. And that’s it! We will keep choosing great songs, keep rehearsing well, but at the end of this year, we want to make sure we’ve definitely done these two things well! Simplicity helps drive it home and gets everyone on board (and stay onboard).
STAY FOCUSED
Keep a focus on your culture. As we’ve mentioned, you want a compelling vision, then you want to keep an eye out week to week on how the culture is supporting that. As an example, if you want people to practice at home, you need the songs in earlier, not later. Stay focused on the little things that help keep the culture strong.
You want a culture that is about excellence, teamwork, developing skills, being on time, serving joyfully and all those things, but we for sure don’t want to miss the main point of the worship team in the local church…..to lift up the name of Jesus and help the church proclaim the message through heartfelt thanksgiving, gratitude and exuberant singing! Keep up the great work! And stay in touch with us at worshipleadertoolbox.com.
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