5 Mistakes Worship Leaders Make Every Week
Worship through song is one of the most unifying and formative acts in the life of a church. And week after week, worship leaders carry the sacred responsibility of guiding people into that shared moment. But even seasoned leaders can unknowingly create obstacles. After 20 years of leading worship, here are five common mistakes I see worship leaders make every week.
1. Choosing Convenience Over Impact
I’ve seen many worship leaders dismiss a creative service idea—or choose the “easier” route—because it demands less effort to execute. While this isn’t always rooted in laziness, it often stems from not fully understanding the potential impact a particular idea or element could have on people. It’s human nature to take the path of least resistance, but sometimes that path comes at the expense of meaningful impact. The ideas that require the most from us—time, coordination, creativity—are often the very ones that could be the most powerful for our congregations.
I want to encourage you to be mindful of the “convenience filter.” We tend to run ideas through it, prioritizing what’s easiest or most familiar. But if that’s our highest filter, we risk overlooking things God may be inviting us to steward more intentionally.
This could look like:
Incorporating a testimony video in a fresh way, maybe even playing it in the middle of song.
Inviting additional instrumentalists such as a strings section or extra vocalists for a weekend.
Writing an original song.
Learning a new song that’s the right one for the moment.
Let’s be leaders who choose what’s most impactful, not just what’s most convenient.
2. Picking the Wrong Songs
One of the most common pitfalls for worship leaders is picking songs based on personal preference instead of what truly serves the congregation. It’s easy to gravitate toward songs we love—those that move us in the car or in our quiet time—but just because a song speaks to you doesn’t mean it’s the right fit for your church.
Ask yourself: Can people of any age or background sing this song easily? Is it clear, singable, and theologically sound? A song might be musically beautiful or creatively inspiring, but if it’s too complex or confusing for the average person, it won’t foster engagement.
One of the best sayings I’ve heard about preaching is, “A mist in the pulpit is a fog in the pew.” The same is true for worship lyrics. Strong congregational songs communicate truth in a way that’s easily understood. This doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice poetic license, but even the greatest poetry pieces have the clearest meaning. Lyrics like “No power of hell, no scheme of man can ever pluck me from His hand” or “Who else would rocks cry out to worship? Whose glory taught the stars to shine? Perhaps creation longs to have the words to sing, but this joy is mine” are fresh and artistic, but still clear and rooted in Scripture.
Another mistake is retiring songs too early. Worship leaders often get tired of a song long before the congregation does. We’ll listen to a song throughout the week, rehearse it, and play it multiple times a weekend, but most church members hear it far less (Especially since recent studies show the average church goer attends church about twice a month). So don’t pull a song just because you’re over it—wait until the church stops singing it or begins to disengage with it. Engagement is the best indicator of a song’s shelf life.
3. Leading Songs Instead of Leading People
Leading worship is about more than just executing songs well. It’s not enough to sing at people from the stage—we’re called to lead them into worship. Our role includes helping people participate—not just observe. That means breaking down the “fourth wall”—that invisible barrier between the stage and the seats. The more we connect with the room, the more we invite others into the experience.
One common habit I see is worship leaders closing their eyes for entire worship sets. Now, there’s nothing wrong with closing your eyes in moments of reflection or focus—but if your eyes are closed the whole time, you’re likely missing the people you’re there to lead. Worship leaders are like tour guides pointing people to the glory of God. Imagine going on an African safari with a guide who never opens their eyes. You’d miss everything you came to see. In the same way, you can’t guide a room in worship if you’re not actively engaged with what’s happening in it.
Another way worship leaders unintentionally lose people is by missing prompts or cues. A well-timed word of encouragement, a simple direction, or a spoken reflection can help people stay connected to the moment. (Just be careful not to confuse prompting with merely announcing the next lyric).
Vocal ad libs during songs can also be powerful prompts when used intentionally. There are four kinds to consider:
Melodic Tone: Non-lyrical vocalizations like “ohs” or humming.
Melodic Diction: Singing lyrics in a free, expressive way.
Spoken Lyric: Saying the next line of a song before it’s sung.
Spoken Additive: Saying a brief thought or added encouragement that enhances the meaning of the song.
(If you want to hear this done well, check out Sean Curran—he’s a master at using ad libs to draw people deeper.)
At the end of the day, leading worship is about inviting, not just executing. Look at the people. Read the room. Speak with purpose. And lead your church—not just in songs—but in worship.
4. Misreading the Moment
Another common mistake worship leaders make is missing what the moment actually calls for. One example is preaching the “message before the message”… or the “message after the message.”
It’s valuable when worship leaders take time to encourage the church or share something God has put on their heart. But if we’re not careful, those moments can become unplanned, rambling mini-sermons. What starts as heartfelt can quickly turn into a detour—especially when it’s not prepared or grounded in the flow of the service.
One of the places this happens is after the sermon, right before the closing song. The pastor has just landed the plane, wrapping up the message with clarity and impact—and then the worship leader steps in to "re-preach" the same points with different words before launching into the final song. Nothing flattens the momentum of a powerful message like a second closing thought. Instead, make the transition seamless. Just begin the song. Even better—cut the long musical intro and start right into the verse or chorus to keep the moment alive.
But the opposite can be just as problematic—missing the moment to engage or respond. Sometimes the most powerful thing you can do as a leader is call an audible: repeat a chorus, extend a bridge, step away from the mic and let the church sing, or shift the way you pray. Maybe the moment needs more stillness, or maybe it needs celebration.
Reading the moment is both an art and a discipline. It comes with prayer, preparation, and experience. But when you start to recognize what the room needs—not just what’s planned in Planning Center—you lead in a way that serves people well and follows the Spirit’s movement.
5. Running Ineffective Service Evaluations
Most churches have some version of a weekly service debrief—but far too often, these meetings fall flat. Instead of being a space for growth, they become a string of “atta boys” that celebrate surface-level wins while avoiding harder, more honest conversations.
One common example is evaluating a new worship song. The feedback can often focus on how it felt on stage—Was the band tight? Did transitions go smoothly?—rather than how it landed in the room. Did people actually engage with it? Did it help them worship? There's a big difference.
Effective service evaluation takes discipline and intentionality. It requires a team that’s committed to the mission, not just protecting egos. One way to guide that process is by structuring your debrief around three clear categories: Praises, Problems, and Possibilities.
Praises – What went well? Where did people engage deeply? What moments helped the room connect with God?
Problems – What missed the mark? What didn’t land, and why?
Possibilities – What could we tweak, try, or rework next time to improve?
If you want these meetings to actually move your team forward, lead them with honesty, humility, and clarity. Conduct an autopsy without blame. See mistakes as opportunities for growth. When done well, these conversations don’t just critique a service—they sharpen a team and shape a culture that better serves your church.
I’ve made every one of these mistakes. We all have. But the goal is to keep growing—to steward the gift and responsibility of leading worship with faithfulness and intentionality. So which of these areas do you need to address this week? Pick one, take a step, and keep growing.
