The Secret to Team Transformation: Mentorship

Not long ago, I came across a post on social media where the person asked if spending $800 on a used keyboard was a good deal. They explained that they needed a new keyboard for a player who was bringing in their own keyboard to church because they needed to have an operational transpose function on the instrument. (They only knew how to play in a few keys.) 

I sighed and scratched my head as I read through the post, and then cracked my knuckles and set about typing my response. 

My response ultimately outlined that spending money on new-to-them gear was likely the wrong answer to a problem that they had encountered. Still, they had an opportunity to not only solve this problem, but to make a greater investment that would yield larger dividends down the road.

The Problem

OK—so this worship team leader had a problem. What do you think it was?

• Non-existent/outdated/malfunctioning gear?

• Not enough money to buy a reliable instrument?

I'd say none of these answers are correct. The real problem is this:

They didn't have a player equipped enough to fully master their instrument, thus creating limitations not only for themselves but for the team and their resources, too.

The Answer

Now, what would you do in this situation? Most leaders would either do one of two things:

• Buy the gear and be done with it. 

• Let the volunteer go and release them from the team.

Again, these answers don't fully satisfy the problem:

• Buying the gear prolongs the player's plateau.

• Releasing the player creates hard feelings and leaves the team short-handed.

But there's another option that accomplishes a handful of goals:

• Retaining the volunteer.

• Improving the performance quality.

• Stewarding resources more efficiently.

That option is mentorship.

Mentorship as a Solution

My advice to the person posting about buying a new keyboard was to consider allocating a portion of the $800 to pay for guided mentorship in the form of weekly lessons to fully master all 12 keys on their instrument. If the player is receptive, humble, and dedicated, then it should only take 4 to 8 weeks for them to get a grasp of the new concept. If you price that an average of $35/half-hour lesson, then it comes to a range of $140–$280. Even better, if you're able to provide that instruction within your schedule, then you save even more.

Rather than spending money on gear, why not invest part of that into your team? By equipping them, either through your efforts or by outsourcing to another professional, you enable your team members to:

• Improve their abilities.

• "Own" their position within the team.

• Hold more confidence in you as a leader.

Note: It should go without saying, but this all depends on the amount of resources you have on hand. If your budget is low, then consider using your own work hours to provide guidance, or keep pointing the team member to online resources to make improvements. 

Now some folks may object to this solution: "What if they don't get better?" "What if they flake out" "What they leave the church shortly after?"

Well, I would say that you can assess those character qualities and personal situations beforehand. If there's any indication that they won't commit well, then I would point them to some online resources that they can follow at their own pace, no cost to your church. 

But if all things point to this team member as being committed, humble, and eager, then I'd say go ahead and plant that seed. It doesn't need to be much—just enough to get them past their weak points. 

I've seen this work well in our own team at my home church. Through dedicated input that directly addresses areas of improvement, we've turned:

• "Ear" players into chart-reading machines.

• Struggling singers into solid, in-tune vocalists.

• Tech laypeople into problem-solving producers.

But It's Still Not Working—When Do I Call It a Day?

Inevitably, you'll reach the point with some folks where the plateau can't be improved. I'll be diving into this awkward, often emotionally charged situation in another person. But remember this: Respect for people is paramount when managing teams, and sometimes, that means sitting down and having a direct, objective conversation with them to identify where their strengths are best used and what it takes for them to improve their weaknesses. That may mean they need to be released from the team for a time, but like I said, we'll dive into that in another dedicated post.

Here's an action item for you, team leader: Where can I "sow" into my team to help them improve, whether through my own efforts or pointing them toward others?

Singing Scripture: The Verses Project

If you struggle to memorize Scripture, then you should try using songs to solve that problem. (I talk more about here.)

A fantastic resource that has covered a multitude of verses is called… well—”Verses.”

“Verses” is a project that is a “meditative and immersive way to experience the Bible.” Using songs performed by world-class artists, you’re able to digest Scripture word-for-word while tapping into both sides of your brain to meet the goal.

You can check them out on Spotify through the link below.

Be blessed 👊✌️