Team - work

It's usual to see those 2 words as a compound word so when I saw them separate (& next to each other), it brought this to mind: Irrespective of the great things people say and we have experienced about teamwork, its benefits cannot be realised except the team actually works.

The realization that "teamwork divides the task and multiplies the success"* more likely than not led to the popular TEAM acroynm => "Together Everyone Achieves More!"*
Wow - how apt and creative of the unknown author - it couldn't be put better if you ask me.

Like I have, you may have noticed that a lot of people really like and "preach" that acroynm - I like and use it quite a bit myself. So it just amazes, and sometimes amuses then annoys me when some of those people don't walk their talk. Don't know about you but I've been in situations where a team has been set up but only a few members or sometimes only one person in the team is doing any work and then when the "team of one" succeeds, everyone shares in the success. Indeed "success has many friends."*

When faced with a challenge or task, some people start off by asking: "What do you think we should do about such and such?" or "How do you suggest we tackle this and that?" Then IDEAS (Intentions, Decisions, Ambitions & Strategies) start rolling in and the session ends with tasks assigned to a few people or worse still, to one person. What's that all about?

Talking about teamwork, the Bible says:  "He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love." (Eph 4:16 - NLT, italics mine) Putting it differently, we all have a part to play, something to supply.

Have you noticed that no letter is repeated in the word "teamwork"? Each of us brings something unique to our teams - let's bring and use it.

“Individual commitment to a group effort -- that is what makes a team work, a company work, a society work, a civilization work.”** We need to realise that teams cannot work without team members working - and of course towards the same goal. I know that this may sound like a play of words but the fact is: "Teamwork is the ability to work together toward a common vision. The ability to direct individual accomplishment toward organizational objectives. It is the fuel that allows common people to attain uncommon results."***

God has used so many different things around us to demonstrate the potential and power in teamwork. I like these quotes:

"A snowflake is one of God's most fragile creations, but look what they can do when they stick together!"*

“Individually, we are one drop. Together, we are an ocean.”****

When team members work, fragile as a snowflake or clear as a drop of water, things work. In your teams, always remember and abide by these 2 words:

Team->work.

Sources:

* Author Unknown

**Vince Lombardi

***Andrew Carnegie

****Ryunosuke Satoro