I recently found my notebook from the GROW Conference a few years ago in Birmingham Alabama.  It was a great conference and I would suggest that you attend sometime if you are able. While the overall message was geared toward the pastor of a smaller church or church plant, the principals can apply to a church of any size, as well as individual ministries.

In my case I try to figure a way to apply what I learned within kids ministry.

The following were some notes that I made during a session on creating a winning environment.

1.  Create a positive culture 

• it is better to do many things wrong in the right culture rather than the right thing in the wrong culture
• Growing churches (and kids ministries) empower leadership
• Believe in people
• it is ok for people to challenge the process, but not the vision
• create an atmosphere of encouragement

2.  Create a gifts oriented ministry

• do away with the volunteer mentality
• have a process to help people discover their gifts
• equipping people is the main function of a staff (or leadership)
• concentrate on building teams, not building ministry

3.  Create an atmosphere of passionate spirituality

•  lead by example
• you can’t delegate passion
• leaders lead in front
• Ask yourself if it would be ok for your entire church (or ministry) to do what you do and act how you act.  Remember–people are watching you
• celebrate changed lives

4.  Create functional systems and structures

• have clear vision and values, and be able to express and share them
• be able to define success
• have a solid form of government an functional practices
• create systems that help deliver the vision

5.  Create an inspiring worship experience 

• a survey claims that people say fun is the number one quality of an inspiring worship service
• it is ok to laugh
• create comfort by focusing on excellence
• excellence creates comfort—-comfort brings people back

 6.  Create loving relationships

• make yourself and your team available to people
• follow the 30/30 rule—be available 30 minutes before and after each service
• return communication within 24hrs
• tell stories

How about you? How do you create a winning environment?

By having the right people, the right systems and the right culture.   

What does a winning environment look like to you?  What do you think of the list? Anything you would add?