Within the World Team Global community, we talk about the six (6) characteristics of an effective or fruitful team. Stated simply, these characteristics are: common purpose, appropriate division of labor, accepted leadership, agreement on the plan, solid relationships, and good communication.
Something struck me as I was reading through that list again recently. All six are linked by one essential heart attitude or motivation. Humility.
To agree to a common purpose and to share the workload means that we as team members will need to ‘give up’ something for the benefit of the group. To stand behind accepted leadership, we must take our hands off the proverbial ‘steering wheel’ and allow ourselves to be led by another. To agree to a joint plan means that we choose to stand behind the direction we as a group have taken. And obviously, solid relationships and good communication can only occur on a team when each of us is willing to be transparent with others, acknowledging our mistakes, seeking forgiveness, and offering forgiveness to others.
Each characteristic seems to call for humility.
Humility though is often somewhat elusive to us. No one has ever ‘explained’ how to go about growing in humility by certain action steps. Maybe that is why it might be better to talk about ‘gospel humility’. It’s the humility that is the fruit of God’s work of driving the Gospel deeper and deeper into our hearts. It’s not something we do, but something that is cultivated. It’s about a heart that allows God’s Spirit to search us, pull us up short, and enflame our hearts with the overwhelming good news of the Gospel again and again!
So monocultural and multicultural teams can be fertile contexts wherein God works that gospel humility into our lives; where we learn the richness and depth of His love as we rub shoulders in team ministry with brothers and sisters who may not be like us but are committed to the same vision and calling.
A question on which to reflect: how has God used team members to further your understanding of and growth in grace?
Filed under: Humility, Reflection, Teams |
Thoughts Along The Journey 
Lencioni in his book, The Ideal Team Player, identifies Passion, People Smarts and HUMILITY as the main ingredients to a good team player. Of these three he says that HUMILITY is the hardest to improve and that if you don’t have it you probably won’t work on the others.
Thanks for the example you have set David in cultivating humility in your own life.
I think that is why I enjoyed Lencioni’s book. The emphasis on humility puts us on ground where we can’t really ‘do something’ to improve, but will need to rely on someone else to help us grow in humility, namely God.
Appreciate your comments on humility David. Several have added prayer, making it 7 characteristics of an effective/fruitful team.
Thanks Suzy! It should be a given that ‘prayer’ is part of any team and it actually permeates (or should permeate) each on of the six characteristics.
Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. Ephesians 4:2 (NLT)
That is why we need the Gospel every day, as we can never do what Paul calls us to do without God’s grace.
We have been incredibly blessed since being here on our field as newbies by the grace and gentleness our mentors and area director have shown us. Much like Jesus; when we have brought our problems, concerns, anxieties, and weaknesses to them; they have met us with compassion and empathy. They have show us grace, humility, prayer, and even laughter. They are our “team” right now and they have furthered our understanding of and growth in grace by their powerful example.
I like David’s point of the fact that underlying the development of humility is trust – we are trusting God to do His work in us and for us… …and are receivers (not generators) of His Grace. This leads to humility since we are aware of our own limits/weaknesses.
My heart is filled with joy that you are experiencing Gospel community from those leading you!!! Humility on your part opens the door to receiving blessing from others. The opposite would be criticism and resentment because your expectations are not being satisfied. Gratitude, encouragement and support for your leaders is a sign of healthy followers. Blessings on you for making the role of your leaders joyful. May your example influence others in the World Team family.
Amen Albert -may the torch of His Grace be carried and passed on! What an example they have set for us to remember and follow as we one day will be asked possibly to lead others here. I pray by His grace we will be able to give to them what we have been given.