In Praise Of Teams

I really commend the importance of working in teams.

As a loner – although that status is under growing scrutiny – I certainly still enjoy my own company.  I get on well with me, and often find myself to be the most riveting of associates.  (Did you know I am really funny, I never knew just how much until … anyway).

The greatest times in my life, however, have involved projects, activities and occasions working together either in a partnership or in a team.  It makes it all the more unfortunate that the real benefits to be derived from teamwork go missing.  This is sometimes because the teams are too formulaic, or don’t really gel together. Maybe they’re so goal-focussed without considering the individuals in the team as worthy quality contributors to those goals.

If we considered those individuals as having something great to contribute, more time would be spent getting to know the person and encouraging them to make the most of what they have to share it.  This is not just about using people, like you use a computer.  This is the sweet thing of considering others more important than ourselves and serving them.  Doing that mutually means everyone feels valued, everyone feels appreciated, everyone knows to serve each other, and everyone benefits.

I’ve been in a number of settings where that has happened. Sometimes at work, a few times (perhaps too few) at church. Lessons I’ve learned from these experiences include the following:

1) You Are Not The Centre Of The Universe: Whether it’s the introverted approach that detaches itself in an aloof manner, or the bombastic, loud and chatty manner they do not suggest a submissive sensibility.  The other-minded consciousness looks to get engaged with others, without demanding others to play by your standards. Remembering that saves heartache and boredom.

2) You Are Not Just A Cog In The Machine: Yes it’s important to be humble and be other-minded.  That should not see you take on a mentality that devalues what you have to contribute.  Teams are not machines.  Individuals are not easily dispensible products in a clockwork system.  The unique personality and character offers something worth acknowledging and celebrating on its own merits.

3) You Help Yourself As You Help Others: Other-minded consciousness bears much fruit for your own development.  Little things that takes you away from what you’re comfortable doing, but helps someone else nudges you further in knowing your capabilities.

4) The Best Investment Of Time Is Taken In Understanding: So much haste is taken in looking to get a job done, that not understanding, or not looking to understand others can be neglected.  The job may very well be achieved, but it’s hardly a team effort.  Whereas a little time taken in understanding before looking to be understood generates a lot of positive relational credit.

5) Success As A Whole Is Far Sweeter Than Individual Advance: A critical lesson I learnt a few years ago was that the team is only as strong as its weakest link.  What that did for other-minded consciousness was enormous, because it made whole succeeding that much more valuable than any individual recognition.  Indeed it made any individual recognition only relate back to the team.

6) Leadership Is Not About Charisma But Character: Sad to say I’ve been in a number of teams where the leader was inept. Whether it was pride, lack of a commitment to their own development or lack of real interpersonal rapport, they failed to galvanise a real sense of team.  This despite their administrative savvy, or apparent charismatic persona or brilliant presentational style.

Happy to say I’ve been in situations where leaders were outstanding and that was primarily down to their character that desired to lead by example, not by authority.  They sought to come alongside team-mates and get them to realise their unique leadership aspects in their area of expertise.  That engendered a camarederie and a oneness that made those team experiences firmly printed on my heart.

7) Tapping The Untapped Is Worth Its Weight In Gold: Seeing someone who was shy and reluctant to engage, slowly brought emerge and discover something they never knew about themselves is a delight.  Encouraging others to explore and stretch and then tap into something deep and profound and their sheer joy on realisation is like a reward in itself especially when channelled properly.

There are plenty of other lessons I’ve learnt from working in teams, and I look forward to future opportunities to engage in teams and experience more of the good times (OK and the bad) even if I am a loner.

(Photo by Dylan Gillis on Unsplash)

For His Name’s Sake

Shalom

C. L. J. Dryden