The Greatest Leader: How to get to know your team
What would Jesus do?
We all remember that phrase made popular in the 90’s with bracelets, bumper stickers and t-shirts. Many of us may quote that phrase or its acronym, WWJD, when someone is being indecisive. But no matter how cheesy it may sound to us now, it’s still a powerful question.
As a team-building coach, lately I’ve been curious what Jesus can teach us about teamwork from His interactions with His apostles and the many disciples who followed him.
This is the first of a series of blogs about the Greatest Team Leader and His ragamuffin team. So let’s start at the beginning — when the Apostles first start following Jesus:
READ John 1:35-51
How the Greatest Leader knew His team
How well do you know your team? Do you know about their families? Do you know how they react in certain stressful situations? How about what their passions are or what they get excited about?
No matter what type of team you are a part of, it is important that you get to know them if you will be with them for any length of time. The more you know each other, the better you can communicate.
In the first chapter of the Gospel of John, as Simon is introduced to Jesus, Jesus immediately changes Simon’s name to Peter (which means “rock”). Jesus did this because He knew who Peter was even before they met! He knew that Peter had this strong, stubborn personality. He also knew that Peter would soon become a cornerstone of the Church.
Soon after, Philip brought Nathanael to meet Jesus. Of course Jesus already knew Him, as well. He shocked Nathanael as he approached, calling him a true man of integrity — what a compliment from the Son of God! Turns out, Jesus had been watching him — maybe even through His spiritual eyes. Watching Nate sitting under a tree would hardly be enough to confirm that he’s a true man of integrity; Jesus knew Him deeper than that. He had been watching Him for a long time.
Ways to get to know your team
No matter how detailed the hiring process or how strong the LinkedIn profile, we can’t get to know someone that well before meeting them — not like Jesus can! But there are ways you can get to know your team members after you meet them:
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Make the most of those water fountain conversations.
We’ve all heard of these “water fountain” discussions. Usually it’s a term describing gossip. But next time you’re filling up the coffee mug or walking to the car after practice, use it as a moment to get to know one of your teammates a little bit more. Ask them about their family. Find out what dreams have been keeping them awake at night. Yeah, it’s great to ask how their weekend went; but why not go deeper? The point is to get to know your teammate, not just fill the air with empty words.
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Take a personality test with your team.
There are many personality tests out there that vary widely, from the simple DISC test to the very complex Enneagram.
But you don’t need to schedule a personality assessment just yet; something very trendy in the social media world right now are these quick questionnaires that will tell you what character you are from Friends, what color matches your personality, etc.
They’re quirky, and sometimes down-right ridiculous. But once in a while you might come across one that is eerily accurate. Consider tweeting it to your teammates just as a fun way to get to know each other. You might be surprised what Disney Princess they are!
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Have regular “get-to-know-you” times.
It doesn’t have to be on the group calendar unless you just have a hard time doing this, but it’s important to have regular times when your team can come together and get to know each other on a more personal level. This might be an occasional backyard cook-out, a trip to the ballfield, or a day at the beach.
The point is, it’s not really a time to talk about the tasks at hand. It’s a chance to meet their family, talk about things that interest them, and have fun together. Not only will you get to know who your team is, but you’ll begin to build friendships. You never know who in your team has been needing something like this!
If your team will be together for a while, it might be beneficial to schedule a retreat or road trip. A weekend away is a great time to go deeper in those relationships. Don’t be afraid to get to know your team this way. Some leaders like to avoid befriending their teammates and instead like to take the position of an authority leader. While there is room for authority to some level in many teams, I believe a team can be more productive, more enjoyable, and more respected when they are building friendships!
Jesus knew His team of apostles better than they even knew themselves. You’ll never know your team as well as He knew them — or as well as He knows you now. However, I think it’s a great reminder that we should want to get to know our teams. Let your team know that this is more than just getting the job done or winning the tournament. Each one of your teammates is a human being with thoughts, dreams, feelings, concerns, hurts, and stories. Not only will it improve the team to know each other, but it may just improve your quality of life.
This is obviously not a full list of ways to get to know your team. How about you… what ideas or ways have you gotten know the team you’re in? Please share in the comments section below!
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