Teamwork is like a good recipe in the kitchen. Combine the right amount of flour, cinnamon, eggs, sugar, bananas, and a bit of pudding, and you have for yourself a marvelous banana bread. By themselves the ingredients are rather boring, but when combined properly the result is mouthwatering! So it is with teams. Working together, a team can accomplish much!
As we continue in our series on teams and teamwork I trust that you have taken a moment to examine the various groups you are a part of. Prayer teams, elder board teams, groups in your community or school; sports teams or ministry teams. No matter what teams you find yourself a part of now or in the future, I hope this series will strengthen and develop your involvement and leadership.
Last time, I introduced the concept of teams and introduced 4 truths about teams and teamwork. For the rest of this 4-part series, we will examine several biblical stories and learn the key ingredients that are part of healthy teams. We’ll start by studying the leadership of Moses and Nehemiah.
Moses
The life story of Moses is filled with wonderful examples of teamwork. Moses was an incredible leader, but it took more than himself. While reluctant at first and hampered by limitations, he accomplished great things partially because he was aided by a good team of people around him. A brief glance at the leadership of Moses reveals the first two of our ingredients for healthy teams.
Ingredient #1: Delegation
“When Moses’ father-in-law saw all that Moses was doing for the people, he asked, “What are you really accomplishing here? Why are you trying to do all this alone while everyone stands around you from morning till evening?” Exodus 18:14
Moses served as the judge but needed the help of the seventy elders around him to handle the load. By way of Jethro’s suggestion, Moses delegated many of the smaller cases to his team of judges in order to lighten the load of his leadership. Their team effort assured that all of the people were well looked after.
How is the health of your team? Could it be stronger through better delegation? Are there certain tasks that others may be better equipped to handle than yourself? While not every task can be delegated, as leaders it is key for us to determine which tasks play to the strength of our teammates and then hand them over with clearly defined goals, good communication and the right resources.
Ingredient #2: Cooperation
Remember the battle against the Amalekites in Exodus 17? Moses interceded, Aaron and Hur held up his arms, and Joshua fought the battle. They each played a unique role, and together they won the battle. For any team to thrive, there must be a spirit of cooperation. Without it, the team will disintegrate.
What battles might you be fighting that are in need of better cooperation? If you don’t have this spirit of cooperation on your team, the first step may be to examine yourself – do you recognize your need for others? Do you struggle to give up control?
Nehemiah
Nehemiah is the account of how the walls of Jerusalem were rebuilt. A group of organized, skilled teams accomplished a God-sized vision in just 52 days (Nehemiah 6:15). The walls never would have been built had Nehemiah tried to do it alone. It demanded a team. A quick study reveals ingredient three.
Ingredient #3: Commitment
So much could be said about this amazing feat, but one thing we see from the beginning is Nehemiah’s commitment to God, to the project, and to the people. Nehemiah had a deep burden for the welfare of the people and the city.
His motivation was so great that he wept (Nehemiah 1:4) and was willing to sacrifice the normal routine and comforts he knew for the sake of the city and people. He fasted and prayed (1:4-11) and was willing to use his career as a springboard to help the people of God. [1]
Despite strong opposition Nehemiah remained committed, and his team followed. What does your commitment to your team look like? As leaders, our commitment sets the standard for the people we lead. Is it a commitment worth multiplying?
Are there areas of your team leadership that are lacking your commitment? What about the commitment of your team members? If so, take time to provide opportunities for yourself and others to work and serve according to their strengths. The more people feel they can bring their best selves to their work, the more they will enjoy the work and be committed to it.
Teamwork makes the dream work
God has a dream for the various teams you are a part of—a mission to accomplish for the building of His kingdom. As leaders there are many obstacles that make it hard sometimes to delegate, cooperate, and commit to your team. May God give you strength as you seek to grow and shift as a team leader in your home, community, and ministry.
In parts 3 and 4 of this series, we will continue looking at particular Bible stories that illustrate teamwork and learn more ingredients for team success
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