When you can’t encourage your team…
I was coaching a young pastor recently on building a healthy team. One question I asked was about his involvement with other staff members. Specifically, I asked if they felt encouraged in their roles on his staff. His response was revealing.
He said, “I think most of them feel encouraged, but honestly, I can’t think of anything for which to encourage some of them.”
Really? If that’s true we obviously have deeper problems.
Leader, if you can’t encourage someone on your team in what they’re doing…
I see at least three possibilities:
They are not a good fit for your team – Be honest. Some are and some are not. We can play games, do drama, hide the fact, but the truth remains. Not everyone has chemistry on a team. The longer you wait to address it the harder it will be.
There is a deficiency in your leadership – Whenever someone isn’t a fit on my team I always ask first if it’s me. Depending on the circumstances I’ll often ask them. Some will tell you and some won’t, but I need to know when the problem is me. That deficiency in me is probably impacting others without my knowledge.
There is something lacking in them or the organization that keeps them from finding their place – It could be training, adequate resources, or simply encouragement, but something is needed. You can fix this.
Everyone on a team should have value worth encouraging.
Everyone.
If not, find the reason why. Then act accordingly.
Have you ever led someone you struggled to find anything about them to encourage? What did you do?
