Leadership

5 Ways to Motivate Your Team

We had been defeated.

Never had my wife and I worked toward a common goal with such ferocity and dedication. We had oriented every moment of our day around achieving this allusive dream and enjoying the thrill of victory and the ease of our pocketbook. It seemed simple enough. There were countless others who had overcome and had made it evident to the world through a barrage of social media announcements. And yet there we were, practically begging our first son to give into the socially accepted norm of… using the potty.

We had exhausted all efforts and still he would not relent.

Something was missing.

Motivation.

Why should he care? What’s in it for him? What does it matter in the greater scheme of things? What we were missing was the proverbial carrot on the stick. With all of our efforts exhausted, it was as simple as temporary tattoos.

Here is the deal. You go in the potty and you get a sweet tattoo. Done.

Motivation is a common struggle for most people I know. Whether it’s saving money, cleaning the house or losing weight, it is not usually the initiation of something, but the faithfulness to see it’s execution that is difficult. Though this is a common struggle in every aspect of life, motivation is most important in the realm of ministry where people’s eternity are at stake. The question is how do you motivate teams that often times consist of volunteers? There is no paycheck. There is no 4o1K. There are not normal motivating aspects of a full time job.

I have found through leading a church production team that there are five ways to motivate those who serve in our ministries.

Though we utilize these principles for our weekend services, they are equally applicable in every ministry.

1. Celebrate what you want to replicate.

Laying out a clear expectation for those you serve with is incredibly important. This creates a target that they are working to hit each and every week. It is equally important to let your teams know when they have done a good job. Celebrate it in creative ways and this positive reinforcement will produce the same effort that was so successful. Strategically place volunteers in leadership roles in order to produce the attitudes and practices you want to see developed within the team. In our department, we write letters of gratitude and encouragement, buy a volunteer’s favorite drinks and snacks, verbally thank folks sincerely and often and text the team after a great weekend of service.

2. Connect the dots.

Team ownership is motivational. Buy-in is key. Your team needs to know why what they do is so valuable. When individuals begin to believe that they are a part of something bigger than themselves and that it has an eternal impact, their seemingly mundane duty takes on a whole new meaning. Your job is to connect the dots between the strumming of a guitar, pushing of buttons on a light board, shaking hands to welcome a visitor and the life changing opportunity that is being created for people to experience Jesus Christ.

3. Set a good pace.

Ministry is a marathon, not a sprint. In order to develop a team that is in it for the long haul it is important to set a sustainable pace of service. This may mean your team needs to grow. This could mean your team needs to shrink. There is a fine line between too much and too little. Your job is to find the sweet spot for each individual on your team. You want them to be able to learn, develop and become proficient at their craft while also protecting their boundaries as volunteers.

4. Value people over product.

What you value will be evident by the way you lead. It’s not easy, but we must err on the side of valuing people. To motivate your team they need to know that they are more important than the element you are trying to create. This is communicated by your tone, attention, body language and word choice. Go out of your way to make people feel loved and appreciated. Excellence is the goal, but never at the expense of the individual.

5. It’s the little things.

Attention to detail is what separates mediocre teams from highly effective teams. What are the little things that you think of often but rarely act upon? It could be mints and candy in the booth for volunteers to enjoy or lanyards to identify them as a part of a team that gives just a little motivation to serve well. Consider a place to go between services for breakfast or coffee where scripture or testimonies are posted to highlight life change. Take a moment weekly to brainstorm something little and do it!

Just like my wife and I were surprised by what finally prompted my son to begin the process toward being a “big boy”, you may be surprised by what motivates your team to function in ways that vastly increase their effectiveness!

TREVOR MILLER
Director of Worship Production
Mt. Horeb United Methodist Church | Lexington, SC
mthorebumc.com

Trevor Miller is a graduate of Columbia International University where he earned his degrees in youth ministry, outdoor leadership and Bible. He has a background working in student ministry and currently serves as the Director of Worship Production for Mt. Horeb United Methodist Church in Lexington, SC. Trevor has a passion for creatively communicating the transforming power of the gospel. He and his wife, Jenna, currently reside in Lexington with their 2 boys, Eli and Owen.