WORSHIP TEAM
7 TIME-SAVING HACKS FOR WORSHIP LEADERS | Jon Nicol
WHAT’S YOUR RATIO? to forty-five minutes, but honor that as much Here’s a question for leaders (full-time, part- as any other commitment, and spend that time time, or volunteer): What percentage of your investing in your team development process. I’ll admit it: it usually takes more time to
weekly worship ministry work is focused on BONUS: You’ll still get all your work for Sunday delegate than to just do the work yourself—at
‘this Sunday’ (or another upcoming Sunday)? done. How do I know? Parkinson’s law: first. But stay with it and get crystal clear on
“Work expands to fill the time available for its expectations. As delegation starts to work (and
completion.” Bam! it will), you’ll be free to invest more in team
Most leaders likely spend at least 80% of their
time on weekly, Sunday-related activities, and
right? What happens then?
development (and you’ll have just equipped
20% on everything else—team development, 2. BATCH PROCESS. someone to “do” the work of ministry). Double
building leaders, vision, and whatever else lands Whenever you have similar tasks, you’ll get more bonus!
on their plate. It wouldn’t surprise me if that done if you group and complete them together, percentage ratio looks more like 90/10, 95/5, rather than doing each one at different times. 5. LEAD YOURSELF.
or even 100/0 for a frighteningly high number of It’s called batch processing, and it works great Leaders need to lead themselves. Yes, even
leaders. Don’t get me wrong: Sunday is mission for both team scheduling and set planning. Try us right-brained, creative artists. If you’re not
critical. But consider this: Is the urgency of ‘this doing the work of multiple Sundays one or two great at self-leadership, don’t despair. I was
Sunday' (the present) stealing what your team days of the month. That will free up time and the chief of sinners (and still struggle). But here
could be ‘a year from this Sunday’ (the future)? focus on other weeks for team development. are two of the many tactics I use to manage
myself better:
1.
Set a Timer.
One of the problems with worship and music 3. REDUCE & REUSE. ministry is that its leaders lean too heavily on Reduce the number of songs you plan on a To keep work contained (remember
"doing the work of ministry" themselves rather Sunday. It requires less preparation for you (and Parkinson’s law), I set a timer before I start
than equipping others to do it. (See Ephesians your team). a task or project. It keeps me focused on
4:11-12.) Because of that, we get ‘leaders’ BONUS: Fewer songs gives you more time in the completing that task or project.
who spend 90% - 100% of all their time doing service to add non-musical elements of worship the work of ministry. That’s not biblical. At least, (prayer, scripture, readings, response, etc.). I’ve tried to ruthlessly eliminate switching
not if we call ourselves leaders. That can only deepen your church’s worship. between projects or tasks—especially
If we’re serious about being biblical leaders Reuse by rotating fewer songs more often. It brain a favor and turn off your notifications!
who equip people to do the work of ministry requires less preparation, both personally and A UC-Irvine study showed it can take you
versus doing the work ourselves, we need to as a team in rehearsal. With more margin in your up to twenty-three minutes to fully refocus.
begin to reverse that ratio. Don’t worry, I’m not private preparation time and in your rehearsals, Crazy, right?
suggesting you flip it immediately. (That would guess what you can work on? Could it be… BONUS: Besides the higher productivity, leading
get you fired.) team development? Ding! Ding! Ding! yourself better enables you to lead others better
BONUS: Because you’re reusing songs more (and develop them into leaders).
2.
2) Stop Task-Switching.
checking social media. Seriously, do your
But think about this: What small, intentional often, you’ll find that your church sings better
steps could you take to reduce your weekly because they know them better. That’s a win.
workload for Sunday? I want to give you seven
REVERSING THE RATIO
I encourage you to try one or two of these hacks
“hacks” for reducing your Sunday work to allow 4. DELEGATE. this next week. Start small. Little changes will
more margin for the leadership work of team As leaders, if we’re going to take seriously begin to reverse your ratio. Soon, you’ll find that
development. Ephesians 4:11-12, we have to get comfortable you’re still accomplishing all of the short-term,
letting others do the work—even if it’s 'not ‘this Sunday work’ while doing considerably
1. TAKE IT OFF THE TOP. as good.' If you control every aspect of your more long-term, ‘Ephesians 4 work.’
To make room for team development-related ministry, you're creating an organization that is work, do it first. Create a non-negotiable block entirely dependent on you. I need to tell you a of time early in your week. It might only be thirty secret: You won’t be there forever. Shocking, Jon Nicol
Founder
of
WorshipWorkshop.com
and
WorshipTeamCoach.com. He lives and serves in
Lexington, Ohio with his wife Shannon and their
four kids.
WorshipTeamCoach.com
November 2018
WorshipMusician.com
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