Serve On The Team:
Athletic coaches understand the game because they’ve played it.
Application:
- Serve on the team. Learn the basic vision and logistics of the team so it is easier to set goals and create strategies.
Know The Team Individually:
Great coaches know their players as individuals. They know their home life, test scores, personal struggles, and aspirations.
Application:
- Get to know their strengths and where they can grow further.
- Position people according to their skills and passions, as well as character and experience.
- Once you personally get to know each team member, prayerfully place them in a role.
How Do We Measure A ‘Win’?:
More than a score, winning is a combination of people’s lives touched by God, personal growth, team unity, conquered fears, sharpened skills, increased confidence, and victories. It is individuals playing as a team.
Application:
- Observe the team as they serve and provide feedback.
- Create a culture of servant leadership within the team.
- Resource the team with tools to help them grow capacity.
Assess And Direct Momentum:
Successful coaches can read the game’s momentum and make appropriate adjustments.
Application:
- Be flexible: changing the line-up, calling a time-out, or implementing a new play are just a few momentum makers.
- Assess the momentum of the team while serving. Are they energized or exhausted?
- Evaluate the assigned ministry/projects. Are they overwhelming or exciting for the team?
- Review the data. Planning center, training, etc.
Call Timeout If:
- The team is notably discouraged. This can happen when things go wrong.
- The team is disengaged from guests.
- The team serves with a “got to” not “want to” attitude.
- Huddles are poorly attended or led.
Is it time to create a new game plan? Then bring the team together to pray, to cast vision, re-focus on Jesus and His Church, and specify expectations.
If a team member is tired, encourage them to take a break for a season.
If the coach is tired and overwhelmed, he or she can also take a break for a season. Remember: the team will not be healthy if the leaders are not healthy.
Adapt Coaching Technique To Fit The Team:
Players respond to correction and encouragement in different ways. Discipline: Attending practice, training, and getting benched during a game are all forms of discipline. Rewards: High fives, and longer playing time are forms of rewards. The level of effectiveness, depends on the player and the circumstance. How can coaches bring about the best results? Recognize 4 types of players.
Application:
- Players who need direction — Beginners. Brand new players require instruction every step of the way. This demands significant investments of time and patience.
- Players who need opportunity — Also beginners who are leading more independently, but still rely on you for direction and feedback. The relationship feels more like a friendship.
- Players who need support — Serve with little dependence on you, but require encouragement, some direction, and confirmation. The relationship looks more like a partnership.
- Players to whom you delegate — Complete tasks with excellence. These leaders only need you to provide vision on the front end, accountability on the back end, and relationship throughout.
Area Coordinators Sample Agenda:
Your meetings can be organized in a variety of ways and frequency. The goal is to interweave relational, spiritual, leadership, and ministry components into one cohesive meeting. From the elements listed below:
- Meet together face-to-face or via Zoom to communicate upcoming events. This can be done once a month, once every two or three months depending on how much information you have in advance. The goal is not to have more meetings or long meetings, but to communicate adequately and know and grow leaders.
- Gather stories of real life change and share them with the team (this can be shared on Line groups).
- Open floor to discuss team issues and ministry needs. Looking back, now, and ahead.
- Goals (Aim to have 6 week, 3 month, 6 month, and even 1 year team goals established and updated).
- Calendar (Upcoming Lifehouse events and team initiatives).
- Pray and dismiss.
- Look back over the previous month’s events and activities. Make a list of wins and areas to improve.
- Look now at the activities and responsibilities coming up. Are the leaders and team prepared to serve? Is communication and logistics clear?
- Look ahead and plan for the coming three to six months. Develop creative strategies.
Regularly ask Dream Team Coaches these questions:
- What is one victory from this past month?
- One area to improve?
- How can I help you with life or leadership?
- Are you Journaling and hearing from God?
- What is a personal need that I can be praying with you about?
