What Does A Healthy Worship Team Look Like?

Adapted from Brad Kohring and Matt Hann 

Healthy culture isn’t something that you can fabricate, it’s something that you “are”. Team culture isn’t just something to talk about, it’s who we are.

These attitudes and commitments are vital for any worship team! Each has a corresponding question we can all ask of ourselves that will keep the culture of our worship teams healthy and thriving!

worship team

1. Commitment to learning.

“How can I do this better?”

When I’m actively looking for opportunities to learn and grow in every situation, constructive criticism doesn’t come as an attack on me as a person but an answer to the question I’ve been asking all along.

2. Commitment to serving.

“How can I help you?”

No matter what we find in our hands to do, whether worship leading, setting up the stage, changing microphone batteries, or anything in between, our first question to each other and to our church should be ‘how can I help you?’.  I’m here to help you, not the other way around.

3. Commitment to excellence.

“Is this my best?”

Excellence isn’t perfection, but it is my best, and my best means always getting better. What is excellence?

  • Excellence looks like personal practice

Getting better at your craft.  If you feel as though you’re “good enough”, please re-check your approach. Excellence takes hard work and means we are continually getting better.

  • Be aware of where you want to be and set realistic goals for yourself

Don’t be content with staying where you are. God wants our best and the bottom line is our best will constantly be changing with more time, work, and experience.

  • Set an expectation of excellence in your team

Excellence starts with the expectation we set for ourselves but a culture of excellence in a team can only be created by the expectation of our leadership. As a team leader, be clear about your expectations – your team will most likely rise to the challenge!

  • Approach what you “always do” with fresh eyes

If we want church to be a place of innovation and initiative, we can’t do this by staying the same. In a new season, we need to look at what we do with fresh eyes. Different seasons call for new strategies or playing techniques.

4. Commitment to humility.

“How can I demonstrate your value?”

Philippians chapter 2 highlights this so well. Jesus came to serve and lay down His life for us. We need to love and serve each other. It’s a ceaseless mission to place value on the people around me.

5. Commitment to devotion.

“What fruit am I producing?”

Am I exhibiting the fruit of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness ~ Galatians 5:22) in my life more now than I was last year? If so, I’m devoted to the right thing.

6. Commitment to ownership.

“If this was ‘my problem’ what would I do differently?”

We bring solutions, not just problems. We fix things that are broken. We actively look for needs and gaps and we fill them.

7. Commitment to others.

“Who else can I include?”

I don’t hold tightly to “my thing” but actively look for ways to include others on the journey. This is our mandate. We are one body, each with a part to play (1 Corinthians 12).

8. Commitment to unity.

“Am I an island?”

Musicians, lighting, media, sound, singers, musical directors, worship leaders, service directors, pastors and prayer team: We are all part of the team and we are better together!

9. Commitment to communication.

“Am I communicating my problems to the right people?”

If struggles and conflicts arise in a team, are you going to the right person or are you gossiping? Don’t be afraid to have direct conversations with the person or people responsible. Jesus said go to the person directly. It will fix the problems much faster.

10. Commitment to the cause.

“If I was the only one, would I still be here?”

Family, friends, fun, and a team to be a part of are all great reasons to serve each Sunday. But deep down inside I know that, if I was the only one here, I would still turn up. Why? Because I believe in the cause of Christ. I believe in building what Jesus said He would build – His Church (Matthew 16:18).

None of us get these things right all of the time. But they are important and Godly commitments for us all to be aiming towards, both personally and collectively!

Adapted from Brad Kohring and Matt Hann 

Check out my new book: “Leading Worship ~ Notes from a Grand Adventure’. It is now available in Kindle or Soft Cover Editions.  This is a great gift for the musician or worshipper in your life.

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About Mark Cole

Jesus follower, Husband, Father, Worship Leader, Writer, Pastor, Church Consultant, Founding Arranger for Praisecharts.com, squash & tennis player, blogger & outdoor enthusiast.. (biking, hiking, skiing). Twitter: @MarkMCole Facebook: mmcole
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2 Responses to What Does A Healthy Worship Team Look Like?

  1. Anne Liew says:

    Awesome, Mark. Thanks for sharing your wisdom 🙂 Learnt so much from you when we were travelling on the road, you’re a brilliant leader!
    Blessings, from Oz

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