Today’s post is a guest post from Jason Houtsma at Worship Artistry. Worship Artistry has become one of my favorite sites for worship teams as of late. It’s an incredible place to provide top end training for today’s popular worship songs. Your musicians will love it. Dan & Jason from Worship Artistry have graciously decided to give my listeners a special deal: an entire month for FREE! All you have to do is add the promo code “david” on the checkout page.
I spent years in the cycle of worship team burnout.
I’d join the team all bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, volunteer my brains out for awhile and then inevitably step away tired and cynical. After a year off, I would tentatively wade back into the worship leading waters and then start the cycle again.
While I recognize it was my own fault for not setting healthy boundaries, the fact that nearly every worship musician I know has had a similar experience points to a flaw in the system. The Mayo Clinic points to lack of control, unclear expectations, poor job fit, extremes of activity and lack of support as contributing factors to burnout.
As a leader, you need to be intentional about the health of your team and the culture.
Here are five ways to protect your team:
Be Willing To Listen
Sometimes all you need to feel like you have control is to be asked your opinion. Be willing to ask and listen when they answer.
As a leader, you need to have a clear vision and goal in mind. You have to know what you want. But that doesn’t mean you simply dictate and demand. Invite opinions, listen, and create a community where people feel they are valued.
Set Clear Expectations And Offer Constructive Feedback
How often do you practice?
How many times a month do you expect everyone to play?
How well should they know the songs?
Did they nail that intro? It feels good to do a great job so make it a big deal when they do and help them when they are struggling.
Protect The Sweet Spot
“Wow, you’re really great at acoustic guitar, but our lead guitarist just moved. Can you play that instead?”
I’m all for branching out, but make sure that gal gets an opportunity to shine where she’s comfortable, too.
Everyone has their sweet spot. As a leader, be on the lookout for what that is for your team members.
Be A Safe Scheduler
This one is huge.
When you finally find that tasteful pocket drummer, it’s so tempting to schedule him for every service you lead.
The problem is that playing for Wednesday night youth group, Thursday night practice and four services every Sunday easily qualifies as “extremes of activity” for anyone that has a family and works a 40-hour work week.
Even if he’s willing, take the initiative and pace him.
Be A Supporter
Recognize what your musicians need and give it to them.
Is your singer struggling with her monitor mix? Help her get it dialed.
Does your bassist need charts in advance? Make sure he’s got them. There are some great tools out there. Let everyone know you have their back and you are there to help.
Where Do We Go From Here?
One of the best things you can do to prevent burnout is to simply know your teammates.
Are they thriving?
Are they tired?
What’s going on outside of worship practice?
Where do they find joy and fulfillment? They are more than just a musician. Care for both the talent and the person and you’ll get the best of both.
Question: How do you keep your team members from experiencing burnout? What have you learned? Let us know in the comments. You can leave a comment by clicking here.
P.S. Remember to sign up for your FREE MONTH at worshipartistry.com. Simply use the promo code “david” at the checkout.
[ois skin=”Beyond Sunday 2″]
As a guy who is currently trying to get healthy and recover from being rode hard and put up wet, I wanted to weigh in with a couple of thoughts and contribute to the conversation.
To prevent burn out in team members;
1a) don’t be the lid (nuff said)
1b) be the champion for your champions and push whoever may pose a barrier out of the way to enable your champions to expand into their areas of gifting.
2a) Criticism stops with you but compliments never do. I am always amazed when I hear the rare feedback that someone in leadership liked or likes what we do because when I look out on the congregation and see the leadership they are either standing with their arms crossed looking at the stage like they are evaluating every single move and looking for someone to fire or they have a pained look on their face like this is the most awful “joyous” noise that they have ever heard and they are just trying to endure this part of the service. Pass compliments freely, don’t sit on the good things you hear.
2b) Be that guy (or gal)… not THAT guy but that guy, the guy everyone wants to play with because you are free with your praise. Not meaningless praise like “I’m glad you kept your shirt on today and weren’t smoking Marlboro Reds on stage” (which ,by the way, is what I hear when someone says, “Thanks for playing”.) But discrete and thoughtful compliments and praise, e.g. like to the drummer, “Man, that fill you played going into the bridge was killer! I was so excited to start to sing the next line because I could tell you were really worshiping and you were so in front of the throne of God. Man that was awesome!” Or to the keyboard player, “I appreciated your deep and thoughtful playing while providing the singer the cues during the song that was really rubato. You kept them and the whole church together and moving forward, not many people could do that.”
3) We are not all done until WE are all done. Don’t run off the stage without at least helping someone strike their gear i.e. fetch a case, coil a cable, put a snare in a bag etc. In my case, I bring my rig to church because in my hands it sounds better than what the church can provide and because of that I have to arrive early and end up staying late. It is disconcerting when at the end of service the singers simply drop their mics and walk off stage to socialize or the keyboard player just shuts the church’s keyboard off and walks off stage without a second thought to catch up with their friends and by the time I am done striking my gear and loading out to my car (which does not take long), everyone has gone on to lunch. (It is even more disappointing when I have to ask one of my fellow “team” members to move out of the way b/c I am carrying a heavy amp or case and I can’t get past them in the aisle.) To my ears it is a message of he is just an employee, no different than the guy who cuts the grass or cleans the toilet. It is important that each of communicate the message that you are more important to me as a human and brother or sister in Christ than as a musician and as such, I want to look out for your well being and make certain you have time to interact with the church family at large and not get stuck striking and loading out gear.
Thanks,
L
GREAT post! Thanks, David!