We’re excited to have our friend Andrea Olson from Overflow Resource share on the blog with us this week. You can check out all the incredible things Overflow is doing to resource the local church here! Now, let’s dive into her 5 impactful tips for leading a healthy worship team.

Over the last several years of training worship teams and leading worship around the country, I have learned a lot about what it means to be a worship leader and the make-up of a healthy team. I am often asked… “how do we grow together as a team and maintain a healthy team culture?”

There are so many important pieces to this discussion, but the conversation must begin with one word: surrender.

Tip #1 – A healthy team is surrendered

Surrender is a word we have all had to embrace during this season. We all had to surrender, whether willingly or not, our schedules, plans, hopes and desires as we navigated through the uncertain waters of a global pandemic.

But just like we had to learn to hold our plans loosely this last year, so we must hold our leadership and serving positions in the Church with open hands, fully surrendered to what God is doing in His Church.

It starts with letting go of what we want.

Because it isn’t about what we want. It’s about what God wants to do through us.

That mental shift changes everything.

Worship leading is a gift and it’s a high calling. Our main job is to surrender to where God is leading. For leaders, that may mean surrendering your desires or plans in order to come alongside of the vision and needs of the ministry. For team members, maybe it means stepping back from worship team for a season because God is going to move in a new way or through someone else. Or maybe it means stepping up to the mic to lead even though you’re terrified.

Wherever God is leading, our job starts with complete surrender.

Tip #2 – A healthy team is prepared spiritually

Private worship comes before public worship.

Our priorities need to be in that order. If we are not investing in our own personal, private time with the Lord in worship and in the Word, we cannot lead from a place of overflow in public places.

Without this intentionality, we can quickly become exhausted and unable to lead to our fullest capacity. (This applies to everyone, not just the “leader”).

Your choice to make (or not make) this a priority will have a profound impact not only on your leadership, your team and the Church, but on your entire life. It’s that big of a deal. It’s preparation for the spiritual battle you face every weekend in worship ministry…and even in everyday life. You may have to fight for the time, but you will never regret it.

Tip #3 – A healthy team knows one another

You’ve probably heard this. But, it’s so important, that it’s worth repeating. Investing in relationships within your team is crucial. Sharing artistic gifts in public can be a vulnerable thing, and it’s so important that we trust one another as we serve together. I encourage you to schedule times throughout the year to get together, just because. No meetings or agendas.