How to Get Your Engagement Back

"Don't say, 'People are disengaged.' Say, 'We've got an environment that creates disengaged people.'"—L. David Marquet, former submarine commander and best-selling author.

This phrase stopped me in my tracks as I was scrolling through LinkedIn the other week. 

As a worship leader, I've seen lots of ups and downs in how the congregation responds during the singing portion of services. And in other occasions, people who used to be faithful attenders slowly trickle away, and their presence on a Sunday morning comes as a surprise. Overall, engagement is low, and thus morale becomes low, creating a cycle that places everyone into a state of apathy. 

Why does this happen, and how do we fix it?

The Why

As for why it happens—well, there can be several factors. Sometimes, they can't be controlled, like a career change that saps a congregant's energy for Sunday morning, or a relocation that limits their attendance availability. Others can be controlled, including factors like:

• Conflict resolution.

• Improving infrastructure/systems.

• Utilizing diverse abilities and talents.

These are just a few, but at the heart of this is creating a space for people to be valued, understood, and celebrated for who they are and what they can do. It's our duty to identify the things we can change for the better and have the courage to take the needed steps.

The How

For worship leaders, we must evaluate how we engage, rather than complain about how no one engages us. Ask yourself these questions:

• When I'm in front of the congregation, does my body language and facial expression communicate the joy and adoration that I want to see from other people?

• Am I creating an environment where people are comfortable?

• When I'm finished with the worship set, do I sit with the congregation, or do I retreat to the green room, lobby, or coffee room?

• Do I spend time with people outside of the worship team during my week?

• What are my interactions like outside of rehearsal and service?

For me, my answers are:

• My physical expression varies—I'm not an expressive guy. Could I be more inviting with smiles and natural movement? Yeah, probably. But am I completely stoic? I'd say no.

• I'd say I've improved on this. Songs are arranged in keys that work for everyone, not just my voice. I've cut out large instrumental sections like guitar solos, and choose to focus on singing exclusively. I trust the A/V tech team to keep volume levels at healthy ranges, and I do my part to cater to their needs while also being sensitive to arrangements that might be overwhelming to folks with sensory needs.

• This is an issue for me. I tend to only sit through the second service with the congregation, opting for coffee and a muffin outside the sanctuary during first service. 

• This question is a mixed bag for me. I regularly attend recovery meetings, and just a handful of the people there are musicians. But I'm not involved with many other groups. The reason for that is largely the lining up of schedules and prioritizing family. time, too.

• I would like to think my interactions aren't superficial, but many times, it's just a, "Hey! How ya doing?" and then keep walking. 

Like I said earlier, people want to feel valued, understood, and celebrated, and my engagement should address those three needs with authenticity, compassion, and genuine interest. This comes through spending time with them, in their space, and avoiding behaviors that create exclusivity, even it wasn't my intention to do so. In the end, my hope is that relationships are strengthened—heightened visible engagement from the church is a natural byproduct of this process. 

So, where are you with your answers to the questions above? Maybe some answers show that you're doing well, but others may show room for improvement. That can be a hard pill to swallow, especially if you're overwhelmed with responsibilities that demand your presence everywhere, all at once. 

If you find yourself struggling and want to make changes, but need help to get there, please reach out—I'd love to chat and create a plan with you.

Be blessed 👊✌️