Comments on: Working as a Team

By: chris folmsbee

chris folmsbee — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 19:04:03 +0000

Alicia — that is a good word about the individual stories (you didn’t use that word but I think it is implied in what you are saying) of our volunteers/team members. each member of a team is unique and the ability to recognize that and respect it accordingly will help make a healthy team.

By: chris folmsbee

chris folmsbee — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 18:58:16 +0000

doug — totally! if we want our teams to function in a certain way, we’d better be personally living out what we hope to become as a team. if each member of the team is working toward that, that would make for a good, healthy, effective team

By: Alicia Vela

Alicia Vela — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 18:02:45 +0000

Chris and Matt laid out some really good points for being a part of a team, I would echo all of them. And also add one more, as a fellow young youth worker I have learned that it is really important for to establish an individual relationship with each member of your team, as a leader. Find out more about their lives, what they are good at, how they think, areas they would like to grow in.

It is easy to lump volunteers together, but the truth is that they each have a distinct personality. You may have one mom that is really laid back and go with the flow while another one is really detailed oriented and in need of more information. Learning to communicate with each one individually is a great way to make them each feel valued as a member. Plus, knowing them on a more personal level makes you and them feel more comfortable in the group.

By: Doug Jones

Doug Jones — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 17:55:57 +0000

I would add one thought on working with teams in youth ministry…

The team needs to be practicing what they want to see happen in the group they lead. I think that is what is behind each of the suggestions you are offering Chris.

In other words those values and priorities you would like to see in your students need to be practiced, valued and authentically modeled among those on your volunteer team.

Peace!

By: chris folmsbee

chris folmsbee — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 17:11:59 +0000

matt-

those are great points of thought for teams to consider. thanks for contributing them. yeah, you caught me spiritually napping on the prayer one. prayer is a fairly key element, eh?

By: Matt

Matt — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 16:55:04 +0000

Hey Chris -

Great posts lately on volunteers. I think with the whole economic crisis and uncertainty that is out there, volunteers will become more and more important for youth ministries.

I would add these three things:

(1) Have fun together – I think that a team that can play together will in the end stay together.

(2) Celebrate together – Nothing is cooler than a team celebrating the successes of one another and the different dynamics that come through life.

(3) Pray together – I believe that prayer can be the bond that unifies all of us on the team together as we pray for our students and one another.