A Biblical Team?

What Scriptural principles can be applied to teams? Here are some thoughts...

The leader must get to know the followers. This undeniably important process takes time, energy, and focus. In the corporate space, this was called MBWA (Management By Wandering Around). Here in the church we call it Ministry of Presence. Just being there in the team working, listening, laughing, and sharing.

The team members must get to know the leader. While this is not universally held as a leadership principle, in my experience (and by the Scriptures) it is a critical step in the building of the team that team members easily dismiss due to a variety of reasons. The disciples wanted to know Jesus and therefore sought Him in order to do so. We should do the same, obviously, as Christ's disciples, in getting to know the Savior, but we should also do the same to get to know those whom He has placed over us in authority. The better we know each other the more open we can be about what needs to be accomplished in the mission Christ has given us. And, the better we know each other, the more likely we'll be able to follow the next principle.

We should give each other the benefit of the doubt and speak well of each other. There is a strong human temptation to be critical of others - our leaders, fellow team members, or those who we supervise. Conversations which tear others down or subtly cast doubt on others clearly rubs against the call of the Scriptures to "consider others better than ourselves" and to "clothe ourselves with humility toward one another", and so on.

If we have a challenge with the way things are going - as a leader or a follower - then our Scriptural duty is to present the issue before the Lord (in prayer and through the study of the Scriptures) before proceeding. Next steps can include seeking independent counsel (outside the situation) or going directly to the leader or team-member to come to a better understanding of the situation. Or, it may be that God guides us to just be still and let Him handle them or us.

However, next steps should not include rallying others to our "cause". Unfortunately, this is one of the first things we're tempted to do for the obvious reason that it validates us and our thinking. But, again, the Scriptures speak against this behavior for it leads to factions, cliques, and division.

You may feel as I do that this last principle is the most difficult because a) it may expose the potential for me to be wrong and b) it requires me to trust Christ and His Word rather than my own initiative. It takes great courage to say the tough stuff in love and be willing to admit that we had it wrong. However, when we take this chance - if we do - then we demonstrate trust in Christ to follow through on His promise to take care of us when we honor Him.

What are the benefits? As the team trusts in Christ and His provision, then while there may be difficult conversations, He honors those conversations, lives are changed, and His work is accomplished to His glory. As lives are changed, the team may change, too. But, even in welcome arrivals and bittersweet departures, Christ is honored as His work continues.