When was the last time you acknowledged the other members of your team? Have you had any recent successes and celebrated with everyone that was involved, and in your ‘army’? Whether you are a Type A or a Type B personality, a business owner or an employee, a leader or a follower, you are more than likely a part of a team.

Each member of the team is equally important, no matter the role and responsibilities. Type A personalities are balanced by Type B personalities, and vice versa. Leaders need followers to support them; followers need leaders to direct them to success. Business owners need employees to operate the business, while employees need the owners to manage the operation and ‘blaze the trail’.

Two Business Analogies for Defining an Effective Team

Analogy 1: Leadership in the Jungle of Business and Life
A great analogy is often used in college to illustrate the relationship between leaders and followers. The analogy suggests that the relationship between the two parties can be viewed as a team of explorers going out deep into the jungle and trying to hack their way through the brush to reach a particular village. The leader, or the trailblazer, is the one at the helm of the group. He directs the group along a newly paved trail. He uses a machete to hack away at the forest as he goes forward. He has no previous trail paved for him, so he is making the trail himself as he leads the team along.

However, the followers are responsible for managing the trail. As the leader hacks away at the brush and creates the trail, the followers are removing the brush from the trail and setting the brush off to the side. Followers are essentially making sure the path is clear once it’s paved. Followers are also making sure that the resources (items used to clear the trail) are managed efficiently to produce a clear trail. As a result of the leader’s and followers’ actions, the team can now use the trail over and over again to achieve their goals, which is to reach the village.

This analogy shows that both the leader and followers are important to the team’s success.

Analogy 2: The Business Organizational Chart (Hierarchy Pyramid)
Have you ever seen your company’s organizational chart displayed at a company meeting, or perhaps on a bulletin board? If so, you know that the organizational chart typically represents the hierarchy of the business based on the roles and position of each employee or department. The owners are usually listed at the very top, followed by managers, supervisors, and ultimately lower-level employees.

Let’s suppose the organizational chart is a triangular pyramid (which may actually be the case), with the owner listed at the apex (top) of the pyramid. His name would precede the other employees. The pyramid, with the owner at the top, demonstrates that the owner is the most important part of the organization. However, is that a correct assumption? I think not. Flip the chart around 180 degrees, and the lower-level employees would be listed at the top, with the owner listed at the very bottom. This is a good illustration of the importance of even the ‘least’ member on the team. Without good support from the employees, an owner cannot be successful.

The Point of it All: Share Success with the Team
The point here is that no matter what one’s position or role is within the team, business, camp, army, household, or otherwise, he or she is entitled to share in the successes of the team. Further, the way we interact with each member of our team determines the team’s strength. I’m sure you’ve heard of the analogy of a team being likened to a chain. Remove one link from the chain and the entire chain will break. If we support the team, or the chain in this case, (with other links) the same will be strengthened.

That said, as people we need to recognize the importance of the team, share in its victories, and be willing to share in its defeat. Consider the proceeding passage, which illustrates how one of Israel’s greatest leaders strengthened his team by sharing in its successes with every member involved.

King David at Ziklag: Building Camaraderie by Sharing in Successes
In 1Samuel 30, King David’s valiant men who went out to war, sought to withhold the spoil of their enemies, from the villagers of Israel that did not go to battle. However, David instructed the men otherwise. To David, every person was a part of the team; and all shared in the victory and the defeat, whether they went out to battle or stayed home and took care of the ‘stuff’. Here is 1Samuel 30:21-26. See 1Samuel 30 for the entire passage:

1Sa 30:21 And David came to the two hundred men, which were so faint that they could not follow David, whom they had made also to abide at the brook Besor: and they went forth to meet David, and to meet the people that were with him: and when David came near to the people, he saluted them.
1Sa 30:22 Then answered all the wicked men and men of Belial, of those that went with David, and said, Because they went not with us, we will not give them ought of the spoil that we have recovered, save to every man his wife and his children, that they may lead them away, and depart.
1Sa 30:23 Then said David, Ye shall not do so, my brethren, with that which the LORD hath given us, who hath preserved us, and delivered the company that came against us into our hand.
1Sa 30:24 For who will hearken unto you in this matter? but as his part is that goeth down to the battle, so shall his part be that tarrieth by the stuff: they shall part alike.
1Sa 30:25 And it was so from that day forward, that he made it a statute and an ordinance for Israel unto this day.
1Sa 30:26 And when David came to Ziklag, he sent of the spoil unto the elders of Judah, even to his friends, saying, Behold a present for you of the spoil of the enemies of the LORD;

Clearly, from the verses above, David treated all of his camp with fairness, despite the danger he was in from his own army. The army was on the brink of rebellion against him, and many were bent on killing him. Nonetheless, David preserved his integrity and made the right decision. David’s story provides a good example for us to follow in recognizing our team and giving each person what he or she rightfully deserves.

***Note: If we are to partake in the victory of Jesus Christ, we are to be a part of the Crown as well as the Cross. That is, we share in the victory, but we have to be willing to share in the trials that we will face in life.***

The Takeaways
Here are some great takeaways to apply to your business, home, and life in general starting today:
• Identify your unique talents and roles, and work within ‘you’ (ie. be yourself). Whether you’re a leader, follower, entrepreneur, employee, homemaker, or the like, you need to identify the part of ‘You’ that adds value to the team and makes it great! Be a proud leader; be as equally proud if you’re a follower and supporter of your leader! Note: No company can be successful without employees! And all companies need a leader.
• Know that everyone in your camp is a part of the team. Whether they go out to the front lines of the battle or stayed home to watch ‘the stuff’ (homes, children, cars, the office, family, etc.), your teammates were in the battle!
• Teammates share in the victories as well as the defeats. Accept that, and remain loyal to your team through all times.
• Thank your teammates for their support and loyalty! Show them what they’ve helped you achieve (sales goals, important milestones, life goals, and others).
• Reciprocate the support they give you. Give a word of encouragement and support them where necessary.
• Give your teammates their fair share of the spoil. Your successes should flow down the hierarchy of your organization to even the lowest member. Give them a gift; share your profits; publicly and privately acknowledge them. Such actions on your part will foster more loyalty and commitment from them.
• Rejoice in the victory together! Celebrate.
• Prepare for new battles (challenges, opportunities).