Dealing with a Lack of Commitment

One of the most frustrating things to experience as a leader is a lack of commitment from your team members.

A lack of commitment looks like the following things:

- Showing up late
- Worse: not showing up at all
- Worse yet: not calling when not going to show up
- Being lazy and half-hearted
- Not doing the job assigned
- Lacking a sense of ownership

Are you experiencing these symptoms from your team members?  The worst thing to do is to "let it slide."

Here are a few suggestions to deal with a lack of commitment in your team:

1. Cast vision

No matter what you're doing in ministry, people need their overall vision for what they're doing refreshed.  Casting vision helps people keep in mind the bigger picture. They may not understand (or even agree with) the immediate mundane tasks, but having a clear vision will motivate them to keep chipping in because they'll understand it needs to get done in order to reach the ultimate goal.

When is the last time you called a team meeting to cast vision?

2. Give people a break

If your people used to do a great job, but are consistently slacking these days, it might be due to tiredness.  We all have busy lives and crazy schedules.  Consider giving your team a break and encourage them to refresh themselves in the Word of God and prayer.

3. Train and retrain

People are interesting creatures: on the one hand they gladly volunteer; on the other hand they are negligent in the jobs they said they will help you do.  What's up with that?  Believe it or not, it could come down to the fact that they are simply unsure how to do what they've been assigned.

"But I've already told them what to do!"  That's great.  Did you tell them how to do it?  Did you ask if they understand what you want them to do?  Did you tell them to come to you if they have a question with what they're doing?  Did you encourage them to get your advice when facing a problem with what they're doing?

If people aren't confident in what they're doing, they will always under perform in what you want them to do. Perhaps some retraining is in order.

4. Clearly outline your expectations

This really should be point #1.  Tell your team what you expect of them upfront.  If they slack, remind them of their commitment to the initial expectations.  If they keep slacking . . . well, we'll get to that in a bit . . .

5. Pull them aside for spiritual counsel

If a person is demonstrating laziness, complacency, apathy, or is unconcerned about doing a job well, then don't rule out the idea that a spiritual conflict is taking place.

Something might be very wrong in their personal life, and they're manifesting that problem through their poorly done job.  Take your team member aside and ask them if there's something going on that they need to talk about.  Remember: leadership is service.  You're there to serve the Lord and serve your team members.  Show them your concern, pray with them right there on the spot, and give them an encouraging word from the Lord.

If necessary, setup a followup meeting or direct them to your pastoral leadership team for prayer and counsel.  Don't overlook the spiritual!

6. Let some people go

So what about those people who you talk to, encourage, correct, rebuke, and nag (yikes!) that refuse to step it up and do what needs to be done.  Bottom line: they need to be let go.  There are other people who would like to serve and will do their best for Jesus.

Please don't resort to letting a team member go as the first step in dealing with a lack of commitment; but if after implementing steps like the suggestions above they are still dragging their feet, it's time to ask them to phase out of the team because it's hurting the ministry.
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I hope these suggestions help you in building the best team possible for the Lord and His work.  Remember, Jesus Himself had a group of uncommitted people on His team. But our Lord demonstrated patience, discipline, instruction, and--most of all--love towards them because He believed in who they would be and what they would do.  Go and do likewise.