Passionate
Coaches who love the game are passionate, it comes through in every word and action. This role is about believing in and guiding people as they grow in Christ.
Reflect:
- Am I passionate about this team ministry? Is my passion contagious?
- How does my passion for the Lord and for serving motivate my team?
- How can I help my team serve more passionately?
Leads by Example
Studies have shown that after 36 months a team reflects specific characteristics of its coach. A coach of integrity and excellence has a team reflecting those qualities. A coach who lives in fear and selfishness has a team reflecting those traits. Paul writes, “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.” (1 Corinthians 1:11) In all things, even during difficult seasons, live humbly and faithfully and allow others to follow you as you follow Christ.
- Journal. As a coach you are responsible to feed yourself.
- Pray. Model the importance and power of prayer to your team.
- Forgive. Let go of offenses quickly.
- Be real. Share your successes, failures, joys and sorrows because they provide infinite wisdom and encouragement for others.
- Stay excited. Your relationship with Jesus is the most inspiring example you can provide. Fan your gifts into flame (1 Timothy 1.6) and pursue God.
Reflect:
- What example do I set for my team? What should I model more intentionally?
- Do I place pressure on myself to be a “perfect leader?”
- Am I authentic?
Organized
Great coaches have a solid game plan. They organize team practices, meetings, schedules, and their personal lives to maintain a healthy rhythm. Life is a marathon and not a sprint. To stay in the race, maintain a sustainable pace.
Reflect:
- What aspect of my leadership is chaotic? (Scheduling, leadership development, relationship development, setting goals, etc.)
- How is this chaos adversely affecting my team?
- How can I better organize my time?
Application:
Take a look at your monthly calendar and prioritize the following:
Manage your own schedule well:
- Personal time with God.
- Quality time with family and friends.
- Fulfillment of work responsibilities.
- Being part of the Church. (Worship time and Connect Group)
- Intentional time for hobbies and refreshing activities.
- Intentional time for rest. (Sleep, quietness, and stillness.)
Managing your Dream Team schedule well:
- Conduct Dream Interviews with potential new members.
- Identify potential members who can lead with you.
- Facilitate a short Huddle.
- Observe the team in action and provide feedback.
- Meet one-on-one to discuss life and leadership issues.
- Communicate logistics, information, and expectations.
- Pray and plan for direction.
NOTE: Most of the interaction with your team will take place on Sundays.
Visionary
As a Dream Team Coach you lead the game and the team with the following principles:
Have a vision. A dream for what the team can achieve and practical steps for accomplishing it.
Share the vision. Write it down, make it clear.
Teach and pray. The Bible is filled with Scripture to motivate and guide the team.
Encourage the wins. Provide practical steps to achieve team goals. Celebrate publicly.
Use personal testimonies. Share the stories that capture the heart of serving.
Reflect:
- Is the vision for serving clear to me? To my leaders? What is one practical step I could take to clarify basic vision to them?
- Is there a gap between my vision for the team and what they actually do? How do I bridge this gap?
Relational
Known their spiritual journey. How did they come to Christ? What are their struggles and greatest victories?
Know their story: What were the turning points in their life? Are they married? Do they enjoy their job?
Know their heart. What brings them joy? What makes them sad? What do they dream about?
“Leadership is not something you do to people, but something you do with people.”
KEN BLANCHARD
Reflect:
- Who do I need to invest more time in this season? How can I best do this?
- Who seems to be overwhelmed or disconnected? Who is going through a difficult season? How can I lead and love them?
- Who do I continually sow time and energy into but see no fruit from the relationship? Is it time to re-assess this relationship?
Decisive
Be confident in making and sticking to decisions, even when it’s difficult. Fear is the greatest inhibitor of decisiveness. If you struggle in this area ask God to reveal and heal any hindrance so that you can lead more decisively.
Reflect:
- Am I hesitant or hasty with decisions? Why?
- How does the team respond to my indecisiveness or impulsiveness?
- Do I allow for feedback from my leaders and team? How?
Application:
When issues arise or decisions need to be made, walk through the following steps:
- Deal with issues in a timely manner.
- Gather all the information to fully process the issue(s).
- Pray for God’s wisdom and revelation.
- Seek guidance from those in authority: Campus Pastors, Area Coordinator, and Staff.
Look now at the events 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.
Multiplies Leaders
You are not expected nor able to do ministry alone. As the team grows, the Coach can develop leaders in order to — empower others to serve as a sounding board for decisions and help carry the leadership responsibilities together. These types of coaches will have exponential growth and impact.
APPOINT, EQUIP, AND RELEASE
APPOINT
- Look for potential in people, the skills and passion, even if in the raw form.
- Pray for God’s direction. The Bible teaches us to “never be in a hurry about appointing a church leader.” (1 Timothy 5:22). So don’t be quick to fill empty spots.
- Ask trusted team members for their opinion about the potential individual. Then, get approval from the Area Coordinator before approaching him/her.
- Meet one-on-one to determine their readiness, availability, and capacity to lead. Go over and discuss with them their Personality and Gift Assessment results.
- Continue to ask God to give you eyes to see the possibilities and potential in them.
EQUIP
Equipping people involves intentional training, instructive feedback, and relationship.
Follow these steps:
– You Do It. At first the Coach carries the primary leadership responsibilities until others on the team can be identified and developed. Don’t try to sell the role or its responsibilities, just do life together.
Ask: Are they interested?
– You Do It — They Watch. Clearly explain the role and responsibilities of the position. Establish standards of excellence, fully communicating vision and steps to make it a reality. This is interactive learning for them. Just let them observe you.
Ask: Are they still interested? Ready for the next step?
– They Do It —You Watch. Serve alongside them, providing feedback, correction, and encouragement. Train them as they serve. Observe them to see if they are in the right position.
Ask: Are they learning? Is the feedback appropriate?
– They Do It! — By themselves. Only delegate responsibility when they’re able to handle it. Set them up for success! Once released, introduce them to the team, and pray with them for God’s wisdom in serving.
RELEASE
The goal is to empower people to passionately and purposefully serve in God’s Kingdom.
Releasing people to lead might be scary but be confident you have heard from God and have adequately equipped them.
- Give them the role. Once they have proven their character and you have adequately trained them, let them lead.
- Give them space. Do not micromanage their every move, allow for opportunities to succeed and fail. Provide appropriate feedback for both.
- Give them time. It takes time to learn a new role.
- Give them the benefit of the doubt. There is a new level of spiritual warfare and maturity that accompanies their new role.
