Issue 044
Anyone who says teamwork is not always the most successful approach or dares to suggest that teams can be a pain in the neck, is in danger of being burnt, or rather fired for being a heretic.
Of course we know in our hearts that jobs get done well when people
co-operate, but teamwork can be extremely difficult in its own right.
Proving the saying that ” there is nothing new under the sun”, we can look
back into writings that are nearly two millennia old for some inspiration
in our team thinking.
God has revealed himself as a shepherd; the good shepherd who cares
for his sheep; the shepherd who goes after one when ninety-nine are
up to speed. Every team needs its shepherding characteristics so that
each individual’s well being is addressed.
God has revealed himself as a gardener. The gardener plants, waters,
weeds, prunes and harvests. The gardener brings together many
factors to create a healthy and satisfying living system. Every team
needs its gardening characteristic so that the living group as a whole
can function healthily, produce fruit and enjoy satisfaction. No
gardener will concentrate on one plant and ignore the others because
it’s a living system.
God has revealed himself as a builder. The builder makes things. He or
she joins things together. He fashions and shapes, using all the tools of
the trade. The builder delivers the end product. Every team needs its
building characteristic. Caring for individuals and growing a team must
result in the job getting done.
So there it is; it’s not new: the individual, the team and the task or The
Shepherd, the Gardener and the Builder. Maybe the subject should be
called team gardening rather than team building, but next time the team
gets in a mess and someone says “God help us”, he already has.
John 10:14
14″I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me– 15just as the Father knows me and I know the Father–and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.
John 15:1
1″I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. 3You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. 4Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.5″I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. 8This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.
Matthew 16:18
18And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it
Hebrews 3:3
3Jesus has been found worthy of greater honour than Moses, just as the builder of a house has greater honour than the house itself. 4For every house is built by someone, but God is the builder of everything.
In preparation for the next GEOFFSHATTOCKweekly, do feel free to email us your thoughts to wtw@worktalk.gs or leave a comment on our Facebook or Twitter profile. You can also visit our YouTube channel - get inspired and share Worktalk's vision with others.
Work well
Geoff Shattock
© Copyright 2024 Geoff Shattock
All GEOFFSHATTOCKweekly archives are for personal use only. For permission to use for any other purposes please email using the address below thank you.
WORKTALK LEARNING
1 Washington Villas, Hythe Road, Marchwood, Southampton, Hampshire, SO40 4WT United Kingdom
T:+44 (0)23 8086 8543
http://www.geoffshattock.com
comms@worktalk.gs
