November 2009
Leadership Development Ideas - “Building a Kingdom Dream Team"
(Reflections from "Courageous Leadership" by Bill Hybels)
Bill Hybels, through experience, has learned that there is a huge difference between (just) working with other people and doing life deeply with one another as you serve together. Too often we forget that a ‘team’ is a true community where authenticity and godly love is acted out in the process of getting things done. Too often we view team members only from the standpoint of what they offer in terms of filling a role. Even in ministry life the richness of relationships is often lost in the experience of serving.
Hybels has leaned on a process that has resulted in his ministry team becoming a true, authentic community that shares a common bond in ministry. He shares this gold nugget with his readers, and leaders of men can glean much from it when developing their men’s council. Here are some of his ideas:
1. Define the purpose of your team: Sounds too obvious, doesn’t it? Sometimes it’s the most obvious things that we miss! Hybels recommends that the purpose of your team be defined clearly because you will need to be very clear regarding the gifts needed in your specific team. There’s no such thing as a ‘general’ team. Specific purposes require specific team gifts.
2. Establish clear criteria for the selection of specific team members: What kind of person is needed to fill each particular position on the team? Hybels uses the following criteria-based qualities when selecting team members:
- Character first: One needs to have confidence in a person’s walk with Jesus: to know that they are committed to spiritual disciplines, honesty, teachability, humility, reliability, a healthy work ethic, and a willingness to be entreated.
- Competence: Ask God to reveal people who have the gifts and talents that are needed to accomplish the specific tasks that they will be challenged with.
- Chemistry: Having a relational fit with the team leader and other team members is crucial if you want to move the ball forward. Each team member needs to have a positive emotional effect on all team members. A team member’s personality and temperament needs to blend with the other team members and with the team leader.
It’s taken Hybels thirty years to get to the point of learning how to do this well. He has come to realize through trial and error that staying the course on team selection will produce the leadership team God will use to accomplish kingdom goals through His people.
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