Re-Recruiting Champions

Think about your team and what you need to do in the next week or month to build your team. If you are typical, your leadership mind went to the problem child and the behaviors you need to correct or the motivation you need to build. You likely gave but a passing glance to your stars. Stars, you conclude, don't need much attention. That conclusion should be viewed with caution.

Stars are a dream to work with. They get things done. They move the agenda. They compliment and encourage. The are a joy to be with. They self-manage so you can spend your valuable and limited leadership attention on the more needy team members. The last one wil get you in trouble. That belief that champions need less attention should change if you want to breed excellence and grow a thriving church.

Champions should continually be re-recruited. They need to hear why the organization values their time and effort. They should have their own "one-on-one" meetings with you and other leaders to praise them on their performance. Recognition among their peers should be routine. Treat champions as if you may lose them at any minute.

Re-recruiting a strong team member re-engages their commitment to the organizational effort and holds them out for lower performing team members to study and emulate. Taking champions for granted is a common and costly mistake. It takes years to rebuild from the loss of a champion. Champions should be cherished.

Take a look at the percentage allocation of where you invest your time. Chances are, if you are typical, you invest about 80% of your leadership time with your team on generic team matters or dealing with low performers (or cleaning up their mess). Flip it. Challenge yourself to spend 80% of your time with champions and almost-champions. You'll find the energy and effectiveness of your team are exponentially higher than before. Make it a habit to recruit daily your champions to stay on the team. (And lay leaders, re-recruit your champion pastors in the same way!)