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David’s Mighty Warriors
2 Samuel 23:8-17 tells us that David’s team was comprised of mighty warriors. In fact, his team was one of the most celebrated teams in the entire Old Testament. Here were three of his all-stars: Josheb-Basshebeth killed 800 men in one battle; Eleazar struck down Philistines till his hand froze to his sword; and Shammah stood in the middle of a field, striking Philistines down. Once when David asked for water, these three brave warriors risked their lives to break through Philistine lines and drew water from a well and carried it back to David. David refused to drink it, choosing instead to pour it on the ground. That act of sacrifice communicated a depth of devotion and love that had to have impressed the warriors. David also honored them, and they were known throughout the land as “David’s mighty warriors”—a phrase that set them apart as extraordinary.
What are you currently doing to build and maintain a strong team? What are some things you could begin to do that would help those on your team feel special and appreciated? You can check out my review of The Five Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace for some tips.
Jesus’ 12 Apostles
In Mark 3:13-19, Jesus appointed twelve of his followers to be with him because he wanted to send them out to preach and give them authority to drive out demons. These twelve were Galileans—working men, mostly fishermen, all with strong Jewish backgrounds. This was such a significant decision for Jesus that Luke 6:12 tells us he “spent the night (before) praying with God.” Jesus knew this was a team who would be with him for the rest of his ministry, and he was prepared to pour himself fully into their lives.
Jesus taught his team to understand, appreciate, and love one another. He also molded them into a tightly-knit unit. Ultimately, Jesus’ actions, the unshakable reality of the resurrection, and the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit turned a group of men who were characterized by confusion, infighting, and self-interest into a high-performing team.
So What?
So, King David and Jesus built strong teams…what does that mean for you and me? Patrick Lencioni wrote an article entitled, “Start by Building Trust.” Lencioni notes that once we “opt in” to a team, “we can build momentum by addressing the most common dysfunction of a team—lack of trust.”
Lencioni offers two suggestions for leaders:
- Model vulnerable behavior. If team members sense that the leader “is uncomfortable being honest about his or her own issues, there is little chance the team members will do so.”
- Use effective exercises to help team members be vulnerable with one another. First, have team members give a brief personal history. Second, use profiling tools (like personality inventories or strengths assessments) to help members build a picture of their strengths and weaknesses.
A team without trust is something other than a team. Team members must work together and combine their strengths in a way that helps them grow and change the world. Such a diversified team may be tougher to lead—but then training lions is more exciting than feeding goldfish!
Whether you are building a team of super-heroes, mighty warriors, lions, or everyday working people, start by building trust…as you and your team shoot for the stars!