Many of you as leaders and pastors are “stuck” with a polity structure that is committee driven. Though I disagree with this approach in most (not all) organizations you can lead them appropriately and Biblically. It is really up to you as the leader how the committee is going to operate. You can turn a committee into a team…here are few suggestions:
1) Be very strategic in who serves on each committee.
Use individuals who are already serving in your organization. They will be the ones who can make a difference.
2) Share all the details.
Great leaders will serve as a team if they have clear instructions and know what they are doing. If they do not have your heart about what you desire it will be a committee, not a team.
3) Be the tone setter.
You need to be very involved in creating the tone, environment and outlook before the committee becomes a team. You have heard it said and it is VERY true, “People respond to vision, not need”. If you have a tone that rings, vision, direction, influence and making a difference they will move past agenda setting, to action steps.
4) Get with your “Committee/Team” leaders often.
Your team will go back to a committee if it is disconnected with the leader. Monthly meetings, at the least, and a yearly retreat will grow the relationship and the effectiveness of a committee to a team.
5) Meet in a place with some Environment.
Get out of the office, the board room, the dirty Sunday School class room (with the map of Israel and the Royal Ambassadors pledge on the wall) and meet in your home, or relaxing place of business. Create a welcoming relational atmosphere, that encourages creativity and freshness. Showing them that you are thinking through every detail of the meeting place will tell them you have prayed through every detail being presented.
6) Create a Mission Group.
Encourage the committee to serve on mission within your organization. This will remove the control factor into the Christ-like factor in your church or organization.
7) Keep tenure short.
Do not let people serve on the same committee for long periods of time. Control and cruise control will take place nine times out of ten if a person (especially the wrong person) is left on a committee to long.
8 ) Meet when there is no meeting.
Have them in your home, call them on the phone, get them involved in your social network online, when there is no meeting to announce. Love is the key to bridging a committee to a team!!
What else can turn a committee into a team?
Scott says,
I’d go even further with number 5 and 8. Meet in a home once a quarter and have a dinner,potluck,cookout or something. Get them to fellowship together, break bread, etc.
on 01 July 2009 / 3:13 PM
Tracee says,
Shannon -
Great advice for leaders that might feel like there are indeed trapped in a structure that is not mission focused and doesn’t allow ministry work to flow freely.
I like number 8 and would add to that not to meet just for the sake of meeting. Many times it seems like we have committees meet just because it’s the second Tuesday of the month and that’s just the way it is. Leaders should have some focus or purpose for meeting or the work of the committee can seem more like a chore that has to be completed.
On a side note – I have been following you since hearing you speak at The Sticks conference last year in Ohio. Love what you are doing to help the local, rural churches!
on 01 July 2009 / 3:20 PM
Shannon O'Dell says,
Praise God!!
on 01 July 2009 / 3:33 PM
Rich says,
You really have to be very intentional when you form teams – especially in churches that have had committees since the dawn of time. I have had some success and some spectacular failures! The big failure I remember the most (still stings a bit) is a committee that had the same members for years. It was a clique. The only way out was to die and the only way in was to be at least 75 years old. Or so it seemed. They busted my chops for 3 years then I moved on. They probably still get a laugh out of our time together. I don’t think I helped them a bit and they never accomplished anything except intimidation.
on 01 July 2009 / 8:04 PM
Dana says,
There is a vast difference between a person with a vision and a visionary. The people with vision talks a little but does much. The person who is a visionary talks much but does nothing.
on 04 July 2009 / 1:24 AM