Your team is made up of people who love to laugh, play and connect. Staff meetings are limited in their ability to allow people to laugh, play and connect.
Question: When was the last time you and your team had fun together?
Warning Sign #4: You complain more than you celebrate.
We all bring life or death to every team meeting with our words. (Prov 18:21)
How do your staff conversations sound?
Does your team complain about the insufficient parking or celebrate the growing attendance? Do you complain about the need for more volunteers or celebrate the volunteers who are serving?
Shawn Achor says, “Happiness is a work ethic.”
In the same way, “Celebration is a work ethic.” You must intentionally look for the wins and stories you can celebrate.
However, when a team member feels the freedom to complain more than they celebrate, chemistry is crumbling.
Question: Do your meetings consist of more celebrating or complaining?
Warning Sign #5: You let others complain to you about a team member.
You know better than to criticize your team members. But when you let someone else complain to you about a team member, your chemistry crumbles, slowly eroding trust and unity.
Just as hypocritical parenting (do what I say, not what I do) produces children without convictions or a clear moral compass, creating a work environment that includes inconsistency and dishonesty results in a team that lacks confidence, is insecure and is divided. —Jack Monroe (my Executive Pastor)
Question: Does anyone feel comfortable complaining to you about a team member?
Warning Sign #6: You start complaining to others about them.
This may be the fastest way to destroy your team chemistry. After violating Warning Sign #5, it becomes easier to share your own criticism of a team member with others.
God tells us to use our words to build up (Eph. 4:29) and that one day we will be held accountable for every word we’ve spoken (Matt. 12:36-37).
Caution: Guard your words because “a great forest is set on fire by a small spark.” —James 3:5b
A quick filter before speaking is to ask yourself, “Is what I’m about to say necessary and helpful?”
Question: Are you finding it easier to criticize anyone on your team?
In the last moments of Jesus’ life, he was burdened for unity. In the Garden of Gethsemane, he prayed, “May they all be one, as You, Father, are in me and I am in you. May they also be one in us, so the world may believe you sent me” (John 17:21).
Are there any other warning signs that you would add?
