How do you develop a training plan for your team?
I often receive emails from worship leaders asking for insight on different areas of ministry. Today, I thought I’d share a question I received a few months ago from a follower named Esther. Esther is a choir director and worship leader and wanted insight on developing a training plan for her team. What I replied to Esther is my exact response. Since she is a choir director I talk about vocalists, but the same principles can be used for musicians in a worship band.
Q: How do you develop a training plan for your choir or individual team members and track their growth?
A: Hey Esther!
That’s a great question. I love your desire to grow your people!
Personally, I would start by developing a training plan for the whole choir. This could be as simple taking the first 15 minutes of every rehearsal to address a specific topic related to singing, such as vocal warm ups, ear training exercises, etc. Developing a training plan for the entire choir will establish a baseline to work from with individuals.
By the way, don’t be afraid to focus on fundamentals and things you think everyone should already know. They may already know it, but practicing it is something different entirely! The fundamentals are essentials! Don’t be afraid to repeat them either. Maybe every four or six weeks repeat a topic, just bring new light to it.
Once you’ve begun to establish a baseline (probably after 4 to 6 weeks), it’s time to focus on individuals. Sometimes leaders overthink growing people. It doesn’t have to complicated though. Start by asking individuals where they want or feel they need to grow. Whether it’s breath support, expanding range, or anything else, go ahead and start working with them on that.
In my experience, where you feel they need to grow and where they feel they need to grow are usually pretty close. When they’re not, still start with where the person wants to grow. It’s going to be easier to get them on board if they already want to put in the work!
Depending on the size of your choir, you might consider appointing “team trainers.” Team trainers are likely more experienced vocalists, who are able to help inexperienced or struggling vocalists improve. Try appointing them based on vocal part. A baritone will help baritone’s, and so on. Allow the team trainers to take on the task of working one on one with folks. This will take some of the work off of your plate, help to grow leaders, and keep everyone focused on growth.
As far as tracking growth goes, I’m all about goal setting. Sit down with an individual and set some goals. That may look completing a vocal exercise they can’t yet complete, or even hitting a note they can’t yet hit (obviously without damaging anything!). Setting and completing goals allows for both you and the vocalist to see the progress being made.
To sum it all up:
Develop a training plan for the entire choir (set the baseline/teach fundamentals)
Ask individuals where they want/need to grow, begin working with them on that!
Appoint team trainers to help facilitate growth
Set goals for individual vocalists
Even just implementing a training plan for the entire choir will take you farther than you may realize! Believe it or not, most choirs/teams don’t even do that. Just doing SOMETHING goes a long way!
I hope my response to Esther gives some insight into how to develop your team as well. If you’d like help developing a plan to grow your team, schedule a coaching session today! We’ll work with you to put the right plan in place!
Have a question like Esther did? Shoot me an email! I’d love to answer it!