“When Team Members Let You Down”

By Stephanie Stocker

I. Opening activity with a point

A. Marshmallow sculpture - small groups

II. Results of Problem Behavior

A. Takes the energy and focus away from the important issues

B. Decreases productivity

C. Lowers group attitude and hurts self-esteem

D. Causes frustration and anxiety between people

III. Addressing the Individual with Love

A. Describe the specific behavior and review team covenant, clarify expectations

1. Give very specific information

B. Identify why the behavior is ineffective to the team

C. Pause and wait for the individual’s response - really listen to what they are saying

D. Acknowledge and clarify the individual’s response

E. Receive a commitment and repeat it back

F. Affirm their ability to make the change and end on a positive note with a prayer

IV. Procrastination

A. Basic strategies for dealing with procrastinators

1. Delegate projects with deadlines and get them to give you daily progress reports

2. Talk about the fear of failure. The Procrastinator’s philosophy might be: “If I don’t do it, then I can’t fail and I won’t look like a fool.”

3. Be supportive and non-judgmental. Give positive feedback for even the smallest accomplishment

4. Be specific in requests, clear job description

5. Know that procrastination is a long-term habit and

1. will not go away quickly. Always follow up to be

2. sure the procrastinator is not slipping behind

V. Three types of Procrastinators - Untruthfuls, Idlers, Perfectionists

A. Untruthfuls - people who say they’ll do it, but rarely do

1. Establish whether someone’s behavior is untruthful by being aware of how often this person does it.

a. Is there a pattern?

2. Watch what the Untruthful does, stop listening to

a. What they say

3. Make the person feel safe about telling you the truth

4. Realize that the Untruthful has a strong need to be

a. accepted - reinforce positive behavior

5. Get things in writing

B. Idlers - people who waste time

1. Get the Idler to tell you what they are thinking - are they nervous about failing?

2. What is stopping this individual from making a

a. decision or moving forward? Maybe they need more information, ensure they have the whole

b. picture and understand their job

3. Have them keep a time log and evaluate it together

C. Perfectionists - it must be perfect so it never gets done

1. Break the projects down into small sections and request each completed section individually. This will help you to see how much the Perfectionist has achieved and will make them feel good with each completion

2. Set time requirements in advance

VI. Questions to Consider

A. Is team member placed in the right ministry in accordance to their spiritual gifts?

B. Is team member experiencing burn-out?

C. What is happening in their personal life?

D. Were they given unrealistic tasks?

E. Is this a situation where it would be more beneficial to the individual and the team to say “good-bye?”

VII. Bronze, Silver, Gold, or Platinum? Edifying one another into spiritual maturity

A. Love one another (John 13:34)

B. Be devoted to one another (Romans 12:10)

C. Accept one another (Romans 15:7)

D. Instruct one another (Romans 15:14)

E. Greet one another with affection (Romans 16:16)

F. Serve one another (Galatians 5:13)

G. Bear with one another in love (Ephesians 4:2)

H. Be kind and compassionate to one another (Ephesians 4:32)

I. Forgive one another (Ephesians 4:32)

J. Wisely admonish one another (Colossians 3:16)

K. Build one another up (1 Thessalonians 5:11)

L. Encourage one another daily (Hebrew 3:13)

M. Spur one another into doing good (Hebrews 10:24)