session 1

part 1

becoming a healthy team leader

building HealtHy and HigH Performing teams | page 1

building HealtHy and HigH Performing teams

becoming a healthy team leader

• Enthusiasm• Spiritualconversations• Minimalturnover• Goodcommunication• Senseofcommunityandfamily• Minimalpolitics• Peoplelikeeachotherandliketobe

together• Laughter• Lackofsilomentality• Celebration• Sustainablepaceandrhythm• Goodconflictresolution• Unity• Minimalgossip• Growthplansforteammembers• Prayer• Humility(lackofentitlement)

When it comes to your physical health, there are very clear markers that provide a sense of how healthy we are.

In the same way, there are markers that in-dicate strength, flexibility, and endurance.

health markers high-performance markers• Clearjobdescription(Peoplehavea

definedlaneandrunintheirlane.)• Goodtimemanagement• Knowthe“win”fortheirjob• Abilitytospeakhonestly• Effectivemeetings• Cleardecisions• Clearprioritiesandgoals• Resourcesandtoolsfordoingthejob• Minimalorganizationalbureaucracy• Supervisorswhoremovebarriers• Accountability• Effectivesystems• Ongoingperformanceevaluation• Compellingvision• Goodstewardshipofresources• Authoritywithresponsibility

(empowerment)• Clearorganizationalstructure• Minimaldistractionbysocialmedia

andtechnology

session 1

part 1

becoming a healthy team leader

building HealtHy and HigH Performing teams | page 2

building HealtHy and HigH Performing teams

deVotional

In Ephesians 4 when Paul is talking about unity within the body of Christ, he gives us a won-derful picture of a team.

He (God) makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love. (Ephesians 4:16 NLT)

the whole body fits together perfectly.Everyone is in the right seat on the bus. Each person brings their unique piece of the puzzle and they fit together with the other pieces. each part does its own special work.Everyone knows their job and they execute their responsibilities. They are accomplishing goals and making progress. Paul also says that each person does their own “special” work. They are bringing their unique contribution to the team.

it helps the other parts grow.There is synergy and partnership. There is no silo thinking. All great teams are marked by a collaborative and unselfish spirit. There is a saying made famous by John F. Kennedy in 1963 that says “a rising tide lifts all boats.” When we do our job well, we actually help our team-mates and the entire church.

so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.The result is health and growth and love. It’s not just health. And it’s not just growth. The end result is health and growth… in an environment full of love.

Either on a variety show or a street corner, you have probably seen a one-man band. These agile musicians play a number of instruments simultaneously using their hands, feet, and limbs. These street performers are entertaining, amusing, and impressive. They make their money from passers-by who drop a couple of bucks into their banjo case lying on the ground. I’m guessing that the average person listens to a one-man band three or four minutes before moving on.

one-man band Vs. the boston philharmonic orchestra

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building HealtHy and HigH Performing teams

Contrast the one-man band to experiencing a concert by the Boston Philharmonic Orches-tra. People will pay hundreds of dollars to come and sit in a concert hall, not just for three or four minutes, but for a couple of hours. The audience will be enthralled as the orchestra plays some of the greatest masterpieces of music ever written. Where the street performer is amusing and entertaining, the symphony orchestra is inspiring and moving.

The symphony (unlike the one-man band) is a wonderful picture of a team. The orchestra is filled with a wide variety of talented musicians who each bring a unique skill to the team. Every person is absolutely clear about their position and what part they are to play. Glory hounds are incongruent with an orchestra. The orchestra wins or loses as a group. The critics will review the overall concert, not the performance of a single cello. They are led by a conductor who knows how to bring out the best in each person. The conductor also expertly coordinates all of the sections so that there is a flowing, seamless musical experience. It is significant that the audience mostly sees the back of the conductor. The conductor’s job is to keep his eye on his team, not on the crowd.

Recently I saw another quite different, but powerful, picture of “team.” It was from the NBC show called SpartanUltimateTeamChallenge. This show is a competition about very fit athletes who must navigate a challenging obstacle course, and they must do it as a team. The NBC website about the show says…

“No team gets through the demanding obstacles or crosses the finish line without working together….As teams progress in the competition and the obstacles get more punishing, team-work is the only way to come out on top.”

As I reflected on the show, there are several elements that make this such a great case study in “team.”

there have a clear objective. Everyone on the team knows what “the win” is. There is a literal finish line.

they have to work together. Most of the obstacles require collaboration and dependence on other teammates to successfully overcome the obstacle. There is no silo mentality in the Spartan Ultimate Challenge.

they win or lose as a team. There are no individual honors or trophies. In one of the epi-sodes, one of the women on the team sprained her ankle. For the rest of the race her team-

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building HealtHy and HigH Performing teams

mates came alongside her to provide extra support. Those who were strong helped the one who was weak and hurting. And, when these teams cross the finish line, they celebrate to-gether. There are a lot of group hugs at the finish line.

they cheer each other on all along the way. In the midst of a grueling physical challenge, words of affirmation and encouragement flow freely. You regularly hear the phrase “you can do this.” One of the obstacles requires the participants to wade into waist-deep muddy water. Then, the team must use a rope to hoist a couple-hundred pound wooden panel. While the panel is suspended, each person on the team must go underwater and swim under the wooden panel. In one of the races, one of the exhausted team members froze up when it was her time to dive underwater and swim under the panel. You could see the panic on her face. Her teammate said to her, “I’ll go with you. Let’s do this together.” And they did.

they are better together. As a team they were more than just the sum of the individual parts. There was a dynamic synergy created because they were part of a team. At the end of the race, even when they were totally exhausted, they kept pushing ahead because they were part of a team that was counting on them.

Now I know that winning in ministry is quite different. Defining the win can be fuzzier and the obstacles are less tangible. And, we are in the people business, which is way messier than any mud crawl. But the principles of great teamwork still apply.

session 1

part 1

becoming a healthy team leader

building HealtHy and HigH Performing teams | page 5

building HealtHy and HigH Performing teams

can you imagine?

take a few moments to write out some phrases that would describe the kind of team you would dream of.

consider having everyone on your team fill out this card and then have a team discussion about it.

can you imagine a team that…

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