Outline adapted from Rick Warren Issue #133 12/17/2003

A team spirit is never accidental; it is always intentional. Teamwork is built on three factors: a compelling purpose, crystal clear communication, and a code of commonly held values. Let’s examine eight values of teamwork in a simple acrostic, T.E.A.M.W.O.R.K.:

T – TRUST

Trust among our team is the emotional glue that binds us together; it’s essential to producing true confidence in each other. There are two main factors that create trust within our team:

Consistency – People will trust you if, time after time, they see you responding in a consistent and reasonable manner.
Loyalty – Defend members of your team when they’re criticized and then check the facts later in private, assuming the best until there is concrete evidence to the contrary.

E – ECONOMY OF ENERGY

Even a thoroughbred horse can’t run at a full gait all the time. The quickest way to burn-out is to never relax. If you want to last in leadership, then you must have some down time.

Here are some ways you can promote an economy of energy within your team:

Learn to work at different energy levels on different days. Some days, you must work fast and energetic. Other days, it is important to slow the pace a bit. In the long term, slow and steady always outlasts the fast and furious.
Allow flexibility in schedules when possible.
Make the work fun!

A – AFFIRMATION

Everybody is hungry for affirmation. It’s amazing how a smile and a simple word of encouragement can change a team member’s entire day. Four practical ways you can affirm your team is by:

1) Valuing their ideas
2) Appreciating their uniqueness
3) Commending their efforts
4) Praising their loyalty

M – MANAGEMENT OF MISTAKES

The Bible teaches: “Even though a righteous man falls seven times, he rises again.” (Proverbs 24:16, NIV) I love that saying because it points out that even righteous people make mistakes and stumble occasionally. Mistakes are not failures, because you’re never a failure until you give up. Mistakes teach us what doesn’t work. If you’re not making any mistakes, it means you’re playing it safe and not trying anything new. You should make at least one new mistake a week – as long as it isn’t the same old one! Mistakes are how we learn and get better.

W – WEEKLY COMMUNICATION

In order to build team spirit you must communicate. Make it a habit to have an in-depth conversation with members of your team at least once a week. Possible topics:

Ask out their family.
Talk about THEIR special interests.
Encourage their spiritual walk.

O – OPEN COMMUNICATION

Open communication is the cornerstone of great teamwork. Proverbs 13:17 says “A wicked messenger falleth into mischief: but a faithful ambassador is health.” There are three common barriers to great communication:

Presumption – How many problems have been caused by the phrase “But I assumed…”? Here are some fatal assumptions: assuming that there’s only one way to see a problem; assuming that everyone else feels just like you; assuming that someone will never change (they do); assuming that you can know someone else’s motives (you can’t).
Impatience – Ruins open communication because we are more interested in what we are going to say than listening to what others say. Impatience causes you to jump to conclusions.
Pride – When you think you know it all, you are resistant to feedback, and you become defensive instead of really listening to others and learning.

R – RECOGNITION AND REWARD

The more credit you give to others, the more you develop team spirit. It’s that simple. The Bible says, “Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.” (Romans 13:7)

K – KEEP ON LEARNING

All leaders are learners. The moment you stop learning, you stop being a leader. Another proverb says “The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge; and the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge.” (Proverbs 18:15) If you practice these eight T.E.A.M.W.O.R.K. values with your team, you’ll experience a new level of teamwork in your church that will take your ministry to new heights.

Outline adapted from Rick Warren Issue #133 12/17/2003