DEVELOPING A STAFF TEAM

Leadership Lifter
Rick Warren

I. WHAT MAKES A TEAM?

Definition: A team is two or more people with:

1.

2.

II. THE VALUE OF TEAM MINISTRY

1. ______________________________________________________________________

Rom. 12:4-5 (LB) Just as there are many parts to our bodies, so it is with Christs Body. We
are all parts of it, and it takes every one of us to make it complete, for we each have different
work to do. So we belong to each other, and each needs all the others.

2 Cor. 12:14-27

2. _____________________________________________________________________

Eccl. 4:9-12 (GN) Two are better off than one, because together they can work more
effectively. If one of them falls down, the other can help him up. But if someone is alone and
falls, its just too bad, because there is no one to help him. Two men can resist an attack that
would defeat one man alone. A rope of three cords is hard to break.

Other examples:

Nehemiah (Neh. 4:13, 16-18)

Paul (Acts 24:7)

Jesus (Mark 6:7)

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III. HOW WE BUILD TEAM SPIRIT AT SADDLEBACK

We spell it T.E.A.M.W.O.R.K.

T _______________________________________________

Phil. 2:19-20 I hope to send timothy to you soon I have no one else like him, who takes a
genuine interest in your welfare.

What builds trust?

The proof of trust:

E _______________________________________________

Pr. 14:30 (LB) A relaxed attitude lengthens a mans life

Suggestions

1. Dont expect everyone to work at

2. Be aware of

3. Plan out your year in

4. Allow:

5. Work

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Eccl. 10:10 If the ax is dull and its edge unsharpened, more strength is needed but skill
will bring success.
6. Focus on

Ex. 23:29-30 I will not drive them out in a single year, because the land would become
desolate Little by little I will drive them out before you, until you have increased enough
to take possession of the land.

7. Make the work

A _______________________________________________

Phil. 1:3-5 I thank God every time I remember you because of your partnership in the
gospel

What to affirm:

Their

Their

Their

Their

People will be as creative as

M _______________________________________________

Pr. 24:16 For though a righteous man falls seven times, he rises again.

Call it an

W _______________________________________________

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Heb. 10:25 Let us not give up the habit of meeting together but let us encourage one
another.

Tool: Weekly Staff Report Card

O _______________________________________________

Pr. 18:20 (GN) You will have to live with the consequences of everything you say!

Gen. 11:6 If as one people speaking the same language, they have begun to do this, then
nothing they plan will be impossible for them.

Three Blockages:

(Pr. 18:13 LB)

(James 1:19)

(Pr. 13:10)

Two Keys To Success

1. Learn to (Pr. 20:5)

2. Learn to

R _______________________________________________

Pr. 3:27 Do not withhold good from those who deserve it, when it is in your power to act.

Rom. 13:7 (LB) Give honor and respect to all those to whom it is due.

Rom. 12:10 (Ph) Let us have real, warm affection for one another and a willingness to
let the other man have the credit.

K _______________________________________________
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Pr. 18:15 (LB) The intelligent m an is always open to new ideas. In fact, he looks for
them.

Growing churches require:

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 DEVELOPING A STAFF TEAM
Leadership Lifter
Rick Warren

This month, I want us to talk about gaining a team spirit. Since were all on this team together,
Ive got the whole office staff here today.

In 1979, I did a study of the 100 largest churches in the United States. I wrote to every one of
those churches and asked them a series of questions. One of the questions I asked was about
their staff. One of the conclusions that I came up with looking at these 100 largest churches was
that strong churches have strong staff. They have a strong team spirit.

What is it that makes a team? Two things. Definition of team: Two or more people with two
things:

1. A common goal
2. Communication

Those are the two essentials for a team. People working on the same project but not
communicating with each other are not a team. Theyre working on the same project but theyre
not a team unless theyre communicating. You have to have both of these things. A common
goal and communication.

VALUES OF TEAM MINISTRY and why I think its important as a staff why we see ourselves
as a team.

1. The body of Christ functions as a team ministry.

Romans 12:4-5 (Living Bible) Just as there are many parts to our bodies, so it is with Christs
Body. We are all parts of it and it takes every one of us to make it complete, for we each have
different work to do. So we belong to each other, and each needs all the others.

The eye cant say to the foot, I dont need you and the foot cant say to the eye, I dont need
you. Imagine trying to eat with your feet or see with your ears. We need each other and every
one of us on this staff has an important part and the very fact that we are a body and not a
business means that teamwork is more important here than it is in a normal business relationship.

No individual is strong in every area. None of us. This church would not be what it is without
every one of us here. None of us have all of the gifts it takes to make the church operate. We do
need each other. The right blend is whats making our church grow. I have intentionally chosen
staff people with strengths that Im not strong in. I could always compensate for my own
weaknesses by finding people who are strong in the areas Im not strong in. I think a secret of a
good church is you hire people who are smarter than you in areas that you know nothing about.
This is the body of Christ and it gives us a good example of why we need a team.
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2. Teams accomplish more than individuals working separately.

That is a principle that is taught all through Scripture. One example is in Ecclesiastics 4:9-12
(Todays English Version) Two are better off than one, because together they can work more
effectively. If one of them falls down, the other can help him up. But if someone is alone and
falls, its just too bad, because there is no one to help him. If its cold, two can sleep together
and stay warm but how can you keep warm by yourself. Two men can resist an attack that would
defeat one man alone. A rope of three cords is hard to break.

This is the principle that teams accomplish more together than individuals do individually. Other
examples: Nehemiah. In chapter 4, it says the work was so difficult that they became
discouraged. When they were half through the rebuilding of the wall they became discouraged
and gave up and Nehemiah said were going to reorganize this thing. Instead of working by
yourself, were going to put you out in teams. Half of you will stand guard with your spears and
swords and protect while the other half works and then youll alternate. Then it says he took
them out and posted them by groups and families so that they could encourage each other and lift
each other up. Its very important that we work together and not separately.

Another example is Jesus in Mark 6:7. It says when Jesus sent people out to minister, He sent
them out in twos. He did not send them out by themselves but He sent them out as couples
because effective ministry requires support.

A third example is Paul in Acts 24. Paul specifically mentions seven people in his ministry team in
that chapter. He basically had a walking seminary that went with him everywhere he went so he
would not get discouraged and they would not get discouraged because we do need each other.
In ministry, were not just working but were in a spiritual battle. We have to realize that the
devil wants to defeat us. He will use anything he can to defeat us. We need teams to encourage
each other.

Ive written some characteristics of an effective team from the book The Human Side of
Enterprise by Douglas MacGregor. He says:

A good a team is comfortable, relaxed and informal in their atmosphere. I think we get
an A+ on that around here.
Then it says everyone participates in discussions.
The task is well defined and accepted by team members.
Members really listen to each other.
The team is not threatened by disagreement.

When I took the seminar with Peter Drucker a couple months ago, one of the things he said is that
if only one side is being presented in the discussion, thinking is not taking place. People are not
really thinking unless we come up with more than one opinion on a particular thing. So dont be

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threatened by disagreement. You can disagree without being disagreeable. You can walk hand in
hand together without seeing eye to eye. We value different perspectives and opinions.
Personalities are going to allow for that.

Most decisions are reached by consensus. You dont vote on things, you just generally agree.
You notice here at Saddleback, we dont vote on anything. The only thing we vote on is the
budget. I grew up in churches where you voted on everything change the light bulbs, etc. The
problem is, every time you vote, someone loses. And if you vote on everything, pretty soon
youve got a church full of losers. Every time you take a vote you pit people against people and
the church is not a business. It is a body. Its a family and its to be built on relationships. We
dont vote in our family. We basically decide by consensus.

Critical suggestions are made without personal attack.

Members are free to express feelings and not just ideas. You dont have any hidden agendas.
Clear assignments are made and accepted.
Leadership shifts depending on the circumstance. Thats an important concept in team
ministry. Leadership shifts from time to time because were all experts in different areas. In an
area where you know whats going on, members of the staff are obviously going to defer to you
because you know whats going on. Youre trained in that area or youve had experience in that
area.

I want to spend our time today, primarily on this section here on how we build a team spirit at
Saddleback. I want to give you an acrostic T.E.A.M.W.O.R.K. and give you these eight things
on how to build team spirit. This, in essence, is what Im trying to do with our ministerial staff
and its what you need to be doing with anybody who works with you in your areas of ministry,
whether its volunteers or assistant staff or whatever.

T Trust

You cannot build a team and I cannot overstate the importance of trust in teamwork. Paul
trusted Timothy Philippians 2:19-20 I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon. I
have no one else like him who takes a genuine interest in your welfare. Paul trusted Timothy.
Trust is the emotional glue that binds a team together, that produces confidence. If you dont
trust somebody, then you dont have confidence in them. If you dont have confidence, you dont
have achievement. In any high achieving organization, any organization where things are being
done effectively and efficiently, there must be trust in the staff. This not only applies to trust in
people to get the job done but trust in people to do it in the way they think is best. Thats an
important concept. We are given the freedom to try new ways and do the most efficient ways.

Mistrust creates stagnation. What builds trust?

1. Consistency. People must learn to trust you. The Bible says, A faithful man is hard to
find. The more we spend time together and the longer we work together the more we are able
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to read each other and the more consistent we are because we know how people are going to
respond. You know that about other people.

2. Standing with your staff when they take the heat. I have told our pastors many times that
if they are ever accused publicly, I will publicly defend them before I even know what the issue is.
My basic approach is, I defend my staff Whenever I hear a criticism, in the first place, I don't
accept it. The first thing I do is defend it and then Ill go check it out if I need to. But in front of
other people, I think loyalty is extremely important. Loyalty builds trust.

What is the proof of trust? The proof of trust is when you delegate. When you delegate that
decision making power to make decisions and say, You do what you think best. I think thats a
real key. The lesson that taught me this was the very first staff position I was on as a teenager at
the First Baptist Church of Norwalk. Dr. W.C. Bryant called me in. Id just been hired as youth
pastor. He sat me down and the very first thing he said to me was, I wouldnt have invited you
to be a part of this staff if I didnt trust you. The very fact that I trust you means you are free to
do whatever it takes to get the job done. I will back you 100%. I would have charged hell with
a squirt gun for that guy because of that kind of trust. At that age, I was totally untested. I had
no track record at all. As a result, we tried all kinds of crazy things. Within a year, we had
baptized over a hundred youth -- teenagers -- the very first year I was there all because we tried
things that had never been done before. I can think of some of the things that some of you have
come up with and my basic response is Go for it! Whatever it takes, go for it. Because that is
the attitude that says, If I didnt trust you, you wouldnt be here. The fact that youre here
means that you are trusted.

E Economy of Energy

One of my life verses is Proverbs 14:30 (Living Bible) A relaxed attitude lengthens a mans
life. Would you like to live a long time? Would you like to last in the ministry? Then you have
to go about it in a relaxed way.

I believe that what were doing here has eternal implications, without a doubt. So I think what
we need is what I call relaxed concern. That sounds like a contradiction, but its not. In other
words, we realize that heaven and hell are in the balance for the lives of many people. What
were doing is having an impact. But you cannot live tightly wound all the time. You have to go
about your ministry with a relaxed concern. The quickest way to burn out a staff is to not have
economy of energy, to not ever relax. I have been in hundreds of churches I had spoken in over
200 churches by the time I was twenty. And there are a lot of burned out staff people but not
because theyre not dedicated. The problem is theyre too dedicated. Or their dedication is not
tempered by the ability to relax.

Im looking at the long haul. I intend to spend the rest of my life at Saddleback. Im looking at
things 10, 20, 30, 40 years out. Rome is not built in a day. We believe in pacing growth. One of
the verses at the end of the first year when I burned out here is the verse where God told Joshua,
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Im not going to give you the land all at once but Im going to give it to you little by little. Im
going to drive out the enemy a little at a time. He said, If I drove them out all at once, you
couldnt handle it. So they took over the Promised Land a little at a time. Pacing growth.

Thats the kind of growth I think is the healthiest growth at Saddleback. We know enough of
what it takes to get a crowd. Given the right circumstance, we could run ten thousand. Easily.
All you have to do is do the right things, mail out enough pieces of things, have the right kind of
sermons, right kind of music and the right kind of plans. The problem is, we couldnt handle that.
There must be an economy of energy.

Every minute of the day, you are using up energy no matter what you are doing. Every person
has a limited amount of energy. Its like a battery. If you plug in a sixty watt bulb into it, the
batterys going to last a long time. If you plug in two, its going to last half the amount. Soon, if
youve got twenty bulbs, theres only a certain amount of energy that youve got and youre
going to burn out.

I want you guys to be around for a while and I realize that in everything that were doing, we are
all juggling 25 different balls at the same time. So, for us, it is absolutely critical that we realize
that you cannot keep draining yourself without developing this relaxed attitude. Otherwise youre
going to burn out very quickly. Those of you who are in secretarial positions, in particular, Peter
Drucker said the easiest place to burn out is in an administrative position. You need to be aware
of that.

I want to be sensitive to the fact that you cannot keep draining people. Every time you give a
person a problem, thats another drain. You give them another problem and thats another drain.
I am very sensitive to the fact that in the last year weve gone up over 1000 people in attendance
and our staff has doubled. With that kind of growth, that hyper growth, its a drain on us. And
its not going to get in easier in 88 so we have to pace ourselves. We have to economize our
energy.

How do you do that?

1. Dont expect every staff member to work at the same energy level all the time. This
relates to anybody you deal with or the way I deal with you or the way you deal with your staff or
volunteers. It is unrealistic. The fact is, were all made differently. You should not expect more
from people than they can give. Everybody in life is either a Racehorse or Turtle or somewhere in
between. The number one expert on stress in the world said what you need to do is decide, figure
out yourself am I a racehorse or am I a turtle? Neither is right. Its just the way God made
you. You need to find out whether youre a racehorse or turtle and then adjust your own
schedule accordingly and try to figure that out.

2. Be aware of external drains on energy and compensate. When we are going through an
illness or a personal crisis or a relational problem or a new baby those kind of things we need
to realize thats going to be a drain on us and we need to compensate for that.

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3. Its important to plan our year in energy cycles. Maybe you havent realized this (some of
you are new) but at Saddleback we have tried to plan the year in two primary campaigns: The
Spring campaign and the Fall campaign. The Spring campaign is basically April to June or Easter
till vacation which is an incredible time of growth. The other is October till Christmas. Those
two times of the year are the times when we have massive growth. We always have big days at
Easter and all of a sudden were having hundreds of new visitors. This puts additional strain.
Next week is Friends Day and we already know that at least 426 first-time visitors are signed up
to come next Sunday. Thats going to add strain on the staff.

But you cant maintain that pace. There has to be breaks. So at the end of Christmas we go into
January, February and March which always is a time of growth but its not an intense growth like
were trying to do from Easter on into June.

Douglas Hyde wrote a good book a number of years ago called Dedication and Leadership. He
was the leader of the Communist party in England, then later became a Christian and wrote this
book. Its a tremendous book. He talks about how the Communists have learned the value of the
six-week campaign. In other words to get on something, do as much as you can then to get off of
it. And dont try to keep continually doing new things. We came through the summer. We
didnt do a whole lot during the summer. We kind of consolidated as we moved into the fall and
then we go into the winner period of January, February, March.

4. Allow flexible schedules. Ive told the pastors on our staff that Im not interested in the
time that they put in, but Im interested in their productivity. You get the job done then you go
home. You have to look at these things and allow flexible schedules. I think all of us realize
some of you secretaries have come in late at night -- compensate for that.

5. Work smarter not harder. This is another one of my favorite verses. Ecclesiastics 10:10
If the ax is dull and its edge unsharpened, more strength is needed but skill will bring success.
Thats an important thing, to work smarter not harder. If youve got a dull ax, it take more
energy to cut wood. If youve got a sharp ax it doesnt take as much energy. The fact is, I know
a lot of pastors who work much harder than I do, but they dont get near the results. Because
they dont work smart. They are doing things that are out of date -- effective in the 1950s -- and
they arent effective now.

So the key thing is the management of your time and that you develop your skills. Thats why
Im continually listening to tapes and reading books. Im always reading stuff out of my field.
This week I ordered a book by Eisenhower on the campaign in Europe. That happens to be one
of the top books on administration. These kind of things of developing, sharpening yourself,
sharpening your skills. Its more important that you work smarter than you work harder.

6. Focus on the long haul. Rome was not built in a day. Exodus 23:29-30 I will not drive
them out in a single year because the land would become desolate. Little by little I will drive
them out before you until youve increased enough to take possession of the land. Im

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interested in long term results, not short term, instant results. I think that we have a unique
situation here in that our pastoral staff, all of us are committed here. Lord willing, were going to
grow old and die here. That kind of consistency is whats going to make Saddleback strong. Our
model has been the Billy Graham organization. The Billy Graham team has been together for 35
years. When youve been with people for 35 years, ego is no longer a problem. You know each
other. You can read each others moods. Its like being married. You can read each other. You
know weaknesses, strengths and you compensate for that. Were looking at the long haul.

7. Make your work fun. Business is just a big game only you play it with real money.
The most successful people in life are people who get people to pay them for doing what they like
to do anyway. They just have fun doing it. Id be the pastor of this church whether I got paid or
not. Its just so much fun. I think about some of the fun things weve done. We took the pastors
and staff to Oxnard and did a few crazy things (some of which I hope never get out!). I think
about the time we closed down the office and went surfing. Rick had a good idea the other day
about dealing with budget cuts have budget wars and play Laser tag and blow each other up and
get rid of budget problems.

Thats the E Economy of energy.

A Affirmation and Appreciation

You know the amazing power of appreciation. Appreciation means to raise in value. It is the
opposite of depreciation. You know what depreciation is. Youve bought a car and seen its
value go off $1000 the moment you drive it off the lot. If you have money in the stock market,
youve seen depreciation too.

Appreciation means to raise in value. That means if you want to raise the value of anything, you
appreciate it. If you want to raise the value of your mate, appreciate him. If you want to raise the
value of the people you work with, appreciate them. If you want to raise the value of your job,
appreciate the people around you. The more appreciation you express, the more it raises the
value of the situation.

I think William James once said, The deepest principle in human nature is to be appreciated. I
have noticed that my kids get cranky when they get hungry. In fact, I get cranky when I get
hungry! But I think also they get emotionally cranky when they get emotionally hungry. And
when they need strokes. I have noticed that in offices where there arent a lot of strokes given,
people get cranky and irritable. Paul has a continuous attitude of gratitude. Philippians 1:3-5 I
thank my God every time I remember you because of your partnership in the gospel from the first
day. And I want to say I want to thank God for all of you for your partnership in the Gospel.
When we get to heaven and theyre passing out the crowns, were all going to get them for
whats happening here at Saddleback and its going to be full like a family reunion when Hes
passing out the crowns for what took place in this church.

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I think its important that we work on complimenting each other. I want us to set a goal to
become encouragers, for all of us to continually value and appreciate what each other is doing.
Four things you can affirm in the rest of the staff.

1. Affirm their efforts. One of the things weve had with the pastoral staff that Im going to
expand with the entire office staff is what I call the Giant Killer award. The Giant Killer award is
a little award that I made up when I visited Israel a couple of years ago. We went down to the
brook where David picked up his five smooth stones and threw them at Goliath in the valley.
When we were down there I brought back five smooth stones. Theyre mounted on a little plaque
and we give the Giant Killer award to the person whos tackled the biggest problem for the
month. It doesnt mean you had to solve the problem, just that you tackled it. Were going to be
passing that around in 1988.

2. Affirm their loyalty. I appreciate the fact that you guys have stayed with us. Youve had
many reasons and probably many opportunities to go other places Im sure in terms of salary.
You could get better pay in a lot of other places. But the fact that youre here like Paul says to
the Philippians, you guys are my booster club, you didnt walk out on me. And I value
faithfulness. When you go to Yellowstone, Old Faithful is not the biggest geyser in Yellowstone.
Its not even the prettiest. But it is the most famous simply because it is dependable. And it is as
regular as clockwork, every twenty minutes Old Faithful blows. I think people value that kind of
thing.

3. Affirm their differences. With other people that you work with on this staff, affirm their
differences. Thank God that were not all alike. It would be boring if we all liked vanilla ice
cream. This staff is Baskin Robbins 38 Flavors. Its value. Its important to realize that
differences are not wrong, theyre just different. That is not a weakness. That is a strength.
Differences mean we see things differently. When two people agree on everything, one of them
isnt necessary. When you eat, you eat with a knife and a fork. We can affirm our differences. I
think God, just like in marriage, He has humor in putting opposites together, I think He often
does that in staffs for various obvious reasons.

4. Affirm their ideas. My basic approach to life, my stock answer -- I try to answer Yes to
any idea. Then later come back and say Whats wrong with it? Ive asked each of the pastoral
staff that, when they come up with an idea, since my basic response is usually Yes and that can
get us into a lot of trouble if I say yes to everything, Ive asked each of the pastors to tell me
whats wrong with their idea when they share it because Im usually not going to sit there and
stop to think whats wrong with it. My basic thought is to say Why not? Lets go with it! The
fact is, people will be as creative as the organization allows them to be. Thats a fact of life.

Any organization that allows for creativity will have lots of creative people. McDonalds is the
number one in fast food service in the world. Light years ahead of everybody else. The reason
why is that McDonalds has created a structure that allows the person doing the work to come up
with the most creative things. All of the best sellers Big Mac, McNuggets, McBLT all of
those were developed not at the main office but by franchisers, guys who were actually out selling

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on the front lines. They suggested them to the front office and the front office bought it. Most
creative ideas come from the people actually involved in the ministry, not from the top down. I
want us to create an atmosphere where there is freedom to come up with a creative other way.

Everybody is creative. There is no such thing as a non-creative person. Everybody comes up

with ideas because its part of our human make up. God made us creative. In Genesis 1, God
said, Let us make man in our image and what is God like? One of the things God is like is He is
creative. God is a creator. I would say that one of the times we are most like God is when were
creative because were being godly when were creating. God has given us that ability to create.

Unfortunately in most churches we have the structures and the traditions and the policies that
limit or kill creativity. I think that tapping creativity is going to be one of the secrets to this
economy of energy I was talking about earlier. We cannot afford to put on full time staff at the
same rate that our church grows. Theres always a lag behind. We could always use more full
time workers than we have. So how do we compensate for our heavy loads? By doing things in a
more creative way. And by working smarter not harder.

Saddlebacks history is a history of creativity. Weve used thirteen different buildings in the eight
years weve been a church. When you set up and take down a church for several thousand people
every Sunday that requires creativity. Our growth at Saddleback has been built on creativity
because for a long time thats all we had. We have not had buildings, staff, money, people who
have been in the church for years and were trained leaders so the first years of this church were
built on creativity, thinking of new ways of doing it. So one of the things I want us to do is focus
on the creativity of our staff. The nice thing about creativity is it doesnt cost anything. It
doesnt cost anything to dream. You can come up with all kinds of ideas. That doesnt mean
well use them all. In fact, if I told you all the ideas that Ive come up with, that I never even
share, its because we cant do everything but it shouldnt keep you from sharing them. I have
noticed that pastors who fail to use the creativity of their staff eventually lose their staff. Im
going to go where I can be creative and you are too. So I want us to create that environment.

M Management of Mistakes

To build a team, you have to have management of mistakes. Proverbs 24:16 For though a
righteous man falls seven times, he rises again. What I like about this verse is it says that even
righteous men fall. It doesnt say that righteous people are perfect. It says righteous men fall.
They even fall seven times. That means were going to make mistakes. And just because God
has chosen us and blessed us and called us doesnt mean were perfect. So were going to make
mistakes.

Mistakes are useful. They are very useful because they teach us what doesnt work. Thomas
Edison tried 200 different kinds of chemicals before he found out that tungsten would be the
mineral that can be used in a light bulb. Somebody said, Youve had 200 failures. And he said,

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No, Ive had an education. So dont call it a failure, call it an education. You know what
doesnt work.

In any good organization where theres creativity, when you know people are being creative is
theyre making mistakes. If there are no mistakes, there is no creativity.

So Im saying I want everybody making at least one good mistake a week. As long as it isnt the
same mistake. Id rather attempt to do something and fail than attempt to do nothing and
succeed. You have the freedom to make mistakes. You have the freedom to fail. You have the
freedom to waste money, if you learn from it and we never again do it. Thats the key. Because
the fear of mistakes stifles creativity and we want to create an environment where its not a bad
thing to make mistakes, that its ok to make them. We have done more things at Saddleback that
didnt work than worked. Were not tied into anything. There is no sacred cow here so there is
nothing that cannot be changed except the message. So when you make a mistake you just call it
an experiment research. Any failure can become a positive learning experience. Keep your
mind open.

W Weekly staff meetings

I took a verse here that is definitely out of context but I thought Id throw it in for the fun of it.
Hebrews 10:25 Let us not give up meeting together as some are in the habit of doing but let us
encourage one another. Every week I ask the pastoral staff to share with me four things. We
used to do it on little report cards. Now we just do it on electronic mail the computer. I want
to know four things every week. I have made progress in the following areas I am having
difficulty in the following areas I need a decision from you on then Praise reports and
Prayer reports. Those are four things I ask the pastoral staff to give me every week and they do
it through the electronic mail.

Another tool we use is the weekly worship evaluation sheet, which we havent been using recently
and Id like to bring that back into focus. Id like to have each of us on the staff taking the
weekly evaluation forms, putting them in our Bibles as we have in the past and on Sunday making
note of anything a light bulb out, it was too hot, too cold, sound too loud, the bulletins need to
be changed, the sermon too long, etc. Those are good feel back evaluation things.

O Open Communication

Proverbs 18:20 in Good News You have to live with the consequences of everything you say.
It has been my experience in studying churches and in the church staffs that I have been on as a
staff member in the Christian organization that poor communication is the number one cause of
problems in a church staff. People tend to be down on things they are not up on. So there must
be open communication, open lines of communication. People want to know what is going on. A
group of people have tremendous power if they can communicate with each other. Genesis 11:6
(when they built the Tower of Babel) God said, If as one people speaking the same language
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they have begun to do this then nothing they plan will be impossible for them. Thats the power
of clear communication. They had a bad goal. They were going to build the Tower of Babel. In
order to halt the Tower of Babel, God had to break up communication lines. Thats how
important communication is. He said they are all together with a common bond. Remember what
I said made up a good team? Common goal and communication. If theyve got both of those,
nothing could stop them. God had to come in and confuse their communication.

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Three blocks to open communication:

1. Presumption. Proverbs 18:13 It is stupid to decide before knowing the facts. How
many problems have we experienced in life because weve assumed things I assumed you
meant Several common assumptions that will get you in trouble:

1) Assuming there is only one way to see things. There are many ways to see things.
2) Assuming that everyone thinks just like you. They dont.
3) Assuming peoples motives. That will really get you into trouble.
4) Assuming that people stay the same. They dont.

Were always growing. Were always changing. We must not put people into boxes and treat
them the same way at all times. Maybe theyve had a weakness and youve labeled them. But
over the period of years and months theyve grown and developed. So you need to stay open.
The hardest thing to open is a closed mind. Dont confuse me with the facts. Presumption
closes off communication.

2. Impatience closes off communication. We can listen to about 650 words a minute but
people speak at about 150 words a minute. That means there is a 500-word difference. We can
think faster than people talk to us so we tend to jump to conclusions. We want to finish sentences
for them. The Bible says in James 1:19 Be quick to listen and slow to speak. Thats a good
rule for communication.

3. Pride. Pride makes us defensive. We think we know it all. Two secrets of successful
communication

1) Learn to ask questions. Proverbs 20:5 Council is in the heart of man like a deep
well but a man of understanding will draw it out. The more you learn to ask questions of
people, the better communicator youre going to be and the more communication will take
place.

2) Learn to listen with your eyes. Look at what people are saying as well as listen to
what people are saying. Watch their body language, the emotions theyre sending off.

R Recognition

Recognition is a very important part of building team spirit. Proverbs 3:27 Do not withhold
good from those who deserve it when it is in your power to act. In other words, when you can
do something good for somebody, dont delay it. Romans 13:7 says (Living Bible) Give honor
and respect to all those to whom it is due. Romans 12:10 (Phillips) Let us have real warm
affection for one another as between brothers and a willingness to let the other man have the
credit.

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I remember reading a line in a book a number of years ago thats really impacted my life. It said,
God can do great things through the person who doesnt care who gets the credit. I think the
more we give other people the credit, the better the team spirit we have. Recognition cost so
little; it just takes time to do it. It is so rewarding.

There are many ways you can praise those you work with. In public, celebrate their successes,
write them a handwritten note, write a newsletter article about them (some volunteer worker who
served with you). There are many different ways. Put recognition in the forefront.

K - Knowledge

Proverbs 18:15 (Living Bible) The intelligent man is always open to new ideas. In fact, he
looks for them. Growing churches require growing staff. If youre not growing as a staff
person, then youre harming this church. Everything rises and falls on leadership. The moment
we stop growing the church stops growing. Its very important that our personal growth keeps
pace with out professional growth and the growth of our church.

I believe that one of the key responsibilities of the senior pastor me is to model and encourage
continued education. I think that we should always be growing. I have a cassette player I plug
into my cigarette lighter in the car. Ive listened to three complete college courses simply while
driving in the car. And I read probably four or five books a week. I read articles. Im continually
feeding myself and growing because the moment I stop growing, then the church stops growing.

In 1988, Im planning some personal enrichment things I want every staff person to have. Ill be
giving you tapes I want you to listen to. Im going to be giving you exerts from different books,
articles Ive photocopied that will keep you on the cutting edge. There will be times well get our
staff together and say, Everybody read a certain book and then well get together and discuss it.
Or listen to a certain tape and then get together and discuss that.

If you see a seminar that will help you be more effective in ministry, then go for it. Do it. We
want anything that will help you sharpen your skills. People are our greatest resources. I find
that when I go away to a seminar or conference, I often come back with a very fresh perspective.

These eight things help build a team spirit. Im so proud and thankful for the team that we have
here at Saddleback and I want to pray for you and those who are listening to this tape.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, we want to thank You for the people that You bring into our lives. I thank
You especially for the staff here at Saddleback and for how You are using each of their
talents and gifts in a tremendous way and Youre building a team that is committed to You
and committed to our church and each other. I pray that those who hear this tape will be
encouraged to build team spirit in their church. For we pray this in Jesus name. Amen.
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