Serving On A Team, What A Privilege
The older I get the more reflective I have become about the things I have enjoyed the most in my life and why they stick out as such special memories. One of the things I have been reflecting on a lot this week has been how special it is to be a part of a team that is trying to achieve their goals through a common mission and vision. There is nothing like the feeling you get when you work with a team that is firing on all cylinders and are truly invested in the process.
I’ve been on all kinds of teams in my life starting at an early age with athletic teams and moving into city and church boards, to district leadership teams as well as being a part of leadership in professional organizations. Each of these experiences have been special, and a question I often get asked is what do you like more, being the leader of a team or being a member of a team? This question has always confused me because as far as I was concerned every member of a team has leadership responsibilities and a team is the sum of its collective parts. The leader is a member of the team and the members of the team are leaders.
The pure joy, pride and excitement that comes from being on a really great team is rooted in some common concepts. Teams must be collaborative, honest, consistent, committed and have an unwavering trust in one another. The bonds that are formed from the work you do with one another create a sense of loyalty and strength of service you can’t find in any other setting. One of the things you will often hear soldiers talk about even more than love of country and patriotism is the bond and commitment they have to those that serve beside them. When they were in combat they didn’t want to let down the soldiers that were shoulder to shoulder with them. They had trained, sacrificed, broken bread, and bled together and they believed in each other and had a real sense of obligation and love for those they experienced combat with.
This week on several different occasions I’ve tried to describe what being on a team means and feels like to me. I couldn’t put how I felt into words but I could think of things that you could draw some comparisons from.
If you have ever hit a baseball and felt it jump off the sweet spot of the bat that is what it feels like
When you got your driver's license and went for your first solo drive that is what being on a team feels like
The first time you rode a roller coaster and felt how exhilarating it is, that is what being on a team feels like.
The first paycheck you get from your first job is what being on a team feels like
Coming down stairs on Christmas morning and seeing what Santa brought you is what being on a team feels like.
I could go on and on and on and on but I think you get the picture. Taking the time to get to know people and build something together is special. It is a moment in time that you will always share from the successes to the failures and not a single soul can take that from you. So you might be asking what is the point of my post this week. The point is don’t take the teams you are on for granted. Being a member of a team is an opportunity not just to achieve something great but to create a bond with people that will last a lifetime. I still talk to the kids I played my first little league game with and all the players, coaches, and teachers I have worked with over the years. My life is more full because of them and your life will be more full because of the teams you have the privilege to be a part of in your lifetime. Have a great week and don’t forget when your commitment is greater than your feelings you get results.
