Bodybuilding
Congregational Wellness
Team Wellness 
Many of us find ourselves in work environments where teamwork is essential. Group projects and collaborative efforts are common in the workspace. And even when your field does not require regular group efforts, the ability to communicate effectively with coworkers is important. When it comes to ministry settings, whether you are paid staff or an unpaid volunteer, teamwork matters. In ministry settings, good teamwork honors God! And when the members of a team can each find fulfillment in doing what they do best, everyone succeeds.
There are lots of helpful assessments and inventories out there that serve a variety of purposes. A good assessment creates awareness of oneself and how people’s gifts fit together. One that is especially helpful in ministry situations stands out for me. The Working Genius created by Patrick Leoncini is a simple tool to create awareness of how each person on a team makes his or her contributions.
What I like in particular about this assessment is how it recognizes that each member of the team brings unique contributions to the table. Everyone has a “genius” (aka strength.) We are all uniquely gifted as to how we look at work and how we go about our tasks.
Another reason I like this particular assessment is that it helps the individuals of our team identify which tasks are that person’s “naturals” which can energize and which ones are the kinds of work that end up draining energy. I have observed that we all are capable of doing tasks that are not in our wheelhouse, at least for a while, but if we do them too much, our work becomes drudgery.
Interestingly, this assessment shows that we all have several “genius” areas which are in between our strengths and our weaknesses. Working competently in these will get you by, but working too much in these middle areas can produce burnout.
When all of us on our team look at the strengths that are brought together, it helps us see how God has put us together. This bigger picture look also enhances our communications.
Do you use an assessment or process that enhances workplace skills and effective communication? Are you tapping into the God-given talents each member of your team presents? As you approach a group task, consider using an assessment tool or inventory to help identify each team members’ strengths and enrich how you talk and work with one another.
Rev. Jeff Marquardt
SED Wellness