3-1-20 Teamwork Makes the Dream Work

Quote: “To build a strong team you must see someone else’s strength as a complement to your weakness, not a threat to your position or authority.”

“Toy Story” will forever be one of those movies that just makes you feel good.

I remember sitting in the theater watching it for the first time.  I realized it right when Woody did.  Oh no!  Buzz has so many snazzy and cool things compared to Woody’s simple pull string features.  Is the boy Andy going to replace Woody – the favorite toy for so many years – with the new toy?!   Poor Woody tries so hard not compare himself to Buzz but he just can’t help himself.

Story writers are brilliant at what they do.  They know the common things humans struggle with.  They know our insecurities.  And when we can relate to a story line in a movie or book, we are more likely to watch or read it over and over, recommend it to others, and claim it as one of our favorites.

When I saw this quote about teamwork tagged onto the characters of Buzz and Woody, I couldn’t help but think about how we sometimes do that in life, too.  A Buzz Lightyear comes along in our lives and we immediately feel inadequate.  Those that excel are often seen as a threat.  But can you imagine if we sat down in offices, at dinner tables, on football fields, or in meetings and focused on how to use each other’s strengths as an advantage?

We did that with our little coffee house gatherings on Sundays.  We all took turns giving the message.  My hubby Mark’s rotation came, he gave a great message, and then came home and said, “I will never do that again.  That is not what I’m called to do!”  You see, his strength is hospitality.  He can read a room and see who needs something to drink, who thinks it might be too cold, or who can’t find something.  I’m oblivious to these things because my strength is talking with people and encouraging them.  I couldn’t tell you who sat where or who was looking for a napkin.  But Mark can.  And I can tell who needs a hug or advice by studying the expressions on people’s faces when I’m speaking.  Mark is now the proud member of the team that helps with the setup of the coffee shop while I’m busy making connections and catching up with everyone.  Using each other’s strengths is the key!

In Proverbs 27:17, it says, “Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.”  We should be sharpening each other with uplifting words and encouragement rather than feeling inferior just because we don’t measure up to someone.  The comparison game we sometimes play is a trap.  Instead of wishing you had someone else’s particular strengths or personality traits, ask them how they got to be so strong in that area.  Listen to their advice.  Watch how they do things differently than you do.  See your weaknesses as areas to grow.  Let’s use each other’s strengths to strengthen each other.

Teamwork makes the dream work.

P.S. For those of you local to the Tri-City area in Michigan, this Proverbs verse is what our little hometown coffee house is named after – the Iron Grind.  🙂