Grow Your Team (Part 4) Tell People Who They Are!

In his book Everybody, Always, Bob Goff suggests to his readers that they should “tell people who they are.” I think that’s great advice in general, but I think it’s incredible advice for leaders!

Think about your team - Do they know who they are as far as your team is concerned? Is your lead guitar player’s job to play guitar or does it go beyond the music? I think that’s an important question to answer. For you, your team, and your church alike.

In fact that’s a great question to ask members of your team in one on one settings: “how do you see your role on our team?” You may be surprised by the answers you receive.

It’s okay if the answer is “no, their job is to play guitar.” It’s okay if that’s how they see their role too. But I’d like to submit to you that their role could be more and maybe even SHOULD BE more. I believe it would benefit you as a leader, your team as individuals, and your church as a whole.

Here are 3 roles worship musicians could (and maybe should) have:

1. Leaders

Everyone who walks through your doors on Sunday morning sees your team. Everyone. In fact their are only two main groups that share the stage on Sunday morning - the pastor and the worship team. Use that fact to your advantage! People are already watching, so lead by example! Leaders in worship also have the opportunity to be leaders in prayer, leaders in note taking, leaders in giving, and leaders in serving. They can set the tone in so many areas!

2. Ministers

You may have the title of leader, pastor, minister, director, or coordinator, but there is only so much you can do. There are people you can’t relate to and events you can’t be at. But your team can be. And they can minster to those people and in those situations.

Here’s what I mean. Your team is likely made up of students, parents, professionals, married people, single people, old people, young people, and many other categories. You may fall into some of those categories, but you certainly don’t fall into all of them. And there are people in those categories that you are not able to reach. Your team members can reach them though! They can minister to people that you can’t!

3. Modelers

In worship, your congregation won’t go further than they are led. Most aren’t sure what they’re allowed to do so they mirror what they see on stage. Because of that, worship musicians should model what biblical worship looks like.

Here are some examples:

In Exodus 15, we see Moses singing in praise. In Psalm 134, the psalmist gives direction to lift your hands and bless the Lord. 2 Samuel 6 shows us David dancing with all his might. In Matthew 26, we find Jesus kneeling in prayer, and in Ephesians 6 we see Paul praying in the Spirit. Physical expression may not define worship, but biblically speaking it is a part of it. Model it for your congregation!

I once had a drummer tell me that he had drummed on worship teams for nearly two decades, but had never seen his role as more than a drummer. Once he learned he could be more he said he’d never go back. He loved how much more meaning his role took on once he saw it as more than music. Give that to your team! 

Give your team the opportunity to be more. Tell them who they are - leaders, ministers, and modelers!