February 21, 2007 | Team Building

“The strength of the team is each individual member; the strength of each member is the team.”

Focusing on the “partner” role of life, we are shifting the primary emphasis from marriage onto the concept of being a team member. Who of us can honestly say we are not members of a team…be it family, church, school, sports, committees, work, or otherwise? No man is an island; we cannot escape teamwork. Being an effective leader and member is something we must all strive toward.

Again, the concept of banishing mediocrity from among the ranks of today’s young people drives the desire to build a team that strives together for excellence in any situation. So many of Paul’s admonitions to be of “one mind,” “love the brotherhood,” “have unity among the brethren,” come to mind. Successful teamwork is a vignette of how the Body of Christ ought to operate.

Leaders must be especially sensitive when it comes to building and motivating a team. Without an inspired team, a leader cannot accomplish much.

“The leaders who work most effectively, it seems to me, never say "I." And that's not because they have trained themselves not to say "I." They don't think "I." They think "we"; they think "team." They understand their job to be to make the team function. They accept responsibility and don't sidestep it, but "we" gets the credit…. This is what creates trust, what enables you to get the task done.” –Peter Drucker

“Most important, leaders can conceive and articulate goals that lift people out of their petty preoccupations and unite them in pursuit of objectives worthy of their best efforts.” – John Gardner

“I start with the premise that the function of leadership is to produce more leaders, not more followers.” –Ralph Nader

So, tomorrow afternoon will find us headed to Big Sandy, Texas where Advanced EXCEL will bust its previous mold—we will participate in an abridged STEP program as part of our team building program. We will rappel, canoe, play volleyball, and master a low-ropes confidence course. These adventures promise fun, fresh challenges, and insight, as diverse individuals work together as a unified team.

Jennifer Smith

The Valentine's Group

Gina, Kristin, Sarah, & Jennifer