There is no "I" in "Team"

Over the weekend the Creative Arts team had the chance to escape the daily rush of life and retreat to a beautiful cabin the woods about two hours away from here. It was a time of relaxation, prayer, brainstorming, killing man-eating spiders (thanks, Randy) and eating WAY too much. On the way back I was thinking how great it is to be part of a "team" and not just an employee. I realize that last sentence is a bite trite, but this is what I mean...

Working at my church is unlike any other place I've worked. Here there isn't a heirachy of titles, nor is there any seniority. It is the most level playing field I've ever been on. Granted, there's a team leader, but that's about it. There isn't a ladder to climb or people to step on. But there's still opportunity to succeed and get ahead (just not at the sake of anyone else).

The other day I was talking with said team leader and this is what he had to say: Businesses who don't have this philosophy will not be successful. (We're talking long-term success: 30+years) Sure, things might be great on the front end; lots of money coming in due to a successful client; however, if there isn't an infrastructure of solid, commited, and unified team mates to support this "flash-in-the-pan" success then the company will not profit. Period.

How you treat the people who work for you will determine how good they are to you and to the company they work for. Basically it all goes back to the golden rule: treat other how you would like to be treated. But unfortunatley, the bottom line comes into focus and leaves the team to dissolve and fade away leaving only a cycle of doers to follow them.

...to be continued.