Seven Laws of Team Building

Great leaders understand not only the meaning of leadership but also leadership methods. They know how people work--and how they work together. Here are seven rules for building strong teams. Follow these imperatives, and your team will function beyond expectation.

1. Give Team Members Freedom to Create.

The people you lead must have the freedom to try new things and be innovative in their roles. As the leader, you must release them to explore those innovations. The phrase "My way or the highway" should never be heard from a leader's lips. Release people to explore, and they will find new ways to succeed.

2. Share Ownership.

Effective leaders are not micromanagers. They don't need all the details; they look for results. Leaders know how to give their associates the authority to make decisions within their areas of responsibility. Giving that authority validates their worth and the leader's trust in them.

3. Show Appreciation.

Verbalize your gratitude for the hard work of your team members. All of us are motivated by the gratefulness of others. An appreciative call, e-mail, or pat on the back will put money in your leadership bank and fuel your team members for future service. Good team members work long hours without complaining and go the extra mile to complete a project. When their sacrifice is recognized, they'll continue giving that extra effort.

4. Recognize Success.

Public recognition is a great impetus for quality ministry. It not only affirms the effort of the worker but also helps ministry onlookers become volunteers. People work harder when they know that their achievements are important to someone.

5. Involve People in the Journey.

The old model of leadership was top-down. Mandates were shoved downward like paper pills. The new model of leadership is participation oriented. It allows people to contribute to both goals and goal setting. When workers feel that they are involved in the process, they buy into the goal with greater enthusiasm.

6. Challenge Team Members.

Encourage people to stretch themselves, and they will thank you for it. Help them to understand that some pain usually accompanies gain, and they will push through to receive the payoff. People want to grow. You job as a leader is to motivate them to do so. The personal changes they experience will benefit both the individual and the team.

7. Show Compassion.

Team members all have this in common: they are people. They laugh, cry, fail, and feel tired. Stay connected with your team members and understand their needs. Let your people know that you care about them and their families. Compassion is an important leadership quality.

A law is something that works every time. So when you follow these team building laws, there can be no doubt about the result: you will build a stronger team that will enable you to implement your vision.

Go team!