Many people are afraid to dream big. They are reluctant to hope for to much because they don’t want to be disappointed. As a result, they satisfy themselves with the mundane.

It doesn’t have to be that way. Even if you suspect in your hearts of hearts that you don’t have the talent or resources to accomplish your goals—much less accomplish your wildest dreams—you don’t have to give them up. You just need to change your strategy. Instead of working alone, you need to be part of the team.

HERE IS WHAT A TEAM CAN DO FOR YOU

It makes you better than you are
It multiplies your value to others
It enables you to do what you do best
It gives you more time
It provides you with companionship
It helps you fulfill the desires of your heart
It makes everyone on the team a winner

Teams are incredible things. No task is too great, no accomplishment too grand, no dream too far-fetched for a team. It tasks teamwork to make the dream work.

AN EXAMPLE OF COLLABORATION

Some boys were hiking in the woods one-day when they came across part of an abandoned railroad track stretching off through the trees. One of the boys jumped up on the rail and tried walking on it. After a few steps, he lost his balance. Another boy soon tried the same thing, and he also fell. The others laughed. “I bet you can’t do it either,” he barked at the others. One by one, the boys tried it, but they all failed. Even the best athlete of the bunch couldn’t go more than a dozen steps without stumbling.

Then two of the boys challenged the others: “I can walk on the rail all the way to the end, and so can he.” He pointed to his buddy. “No, you can’t said one of the other boys who had tried and failed. “Bet you a candy bar each we can!” He answered, and the other boys accepted.

Then each of the two boys who had issued the challenge hopped up onto the rail, reached out an arm, locked hands with the other, and carefully walked the whole distance.

As individuals, they could not meet the challenge. But working together, they easily won. The power of collaboration is multiplication.

The power of collaboration is multiplication.

1) PERCEPTION: SEE TEAMMATES AS COLLABORATORS, NOT COMPETITORS

To collaborative team members, completing one another is more important than competing with one another.

2) ATTITUDE: BE SUPPORTIVE, NOT SUSPICIOUS, OF TEAMMATES

It’s a matter of attitude. That means assuming that other people’s motives are good unless proven otherwise. If you trust people, you will treat them better. And if you treat them better, you and they will be more likely to create collaborative relationships.

3) FOCUS: CONCENTRATE ON THE TEAM, NOT YOURSELF

As a person on a team, you will usually ask one of two questions when anything happens: “What’s in it for me?” or “What does this do for the team?” Where you focus your attention says a lot about whether you complete them. Author Cavett Roberts points out, “True progress in any field is a relay race not a single event.” If you focus on the team and not just yourself, you will be able to pass the baton when necessary instead of trying to complete the race by yourself.

TO BECOME A COLLABORATIVE TEAM PLAYER . . .

THINK WIN-WIN-WIN

King Solomon of ancient Israel observed, “Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.” Usually when you collaborate with others, you win, they win, and the team wins. Find someone on the team with a similar role whom you have previously seen as a competitor. Figure out ways you can share information and work together to benefit both you and the team.

COMPLEMENT OTHERS

Another way to collaborate is to get together with someone who has strengths in your area of weakness and vice versa. Seek out others on the team with complementary gifts and work together.

JETHRO AND MOSES – Exodus
- Jethro taught his son-in-law the invaluable lesson of delegation.
MOSES AND JOSUA – Deuteronomy 31:1-8, 34:9
- Moses prepared Joshua to lead Israel into Canaan.
MOSES AND CALEB – Numbers 13; 14:6-9; 34:16-19; Joshua 14:6-15
- It appears that Moses groomed Caleb for leadership, and inspired in him an unswerving faith in the Lord’s promises.
SAMUEL AND SAUL – I Samuel 9 – 15
- Samuel not only tapped Saul to become Israel’s king, but tried to shape his character as well. Even when Saul rebelled against the Lord, Samuel kept challenging him to repent and return to God.
SAMUEL AND DAVID – I Samuel 16; 19:18-24
- Samuel anointed David as king and gave him refuge from Saul’s murderous plot
JONATHON AND DAVID – I Samuel 18:1-4; 19:1-7; 20:1-42
- An outstanding example of peer mentoring, Jonathan and David remained loyal to each other during the troubled days of Saul’s declining reign.
ELIJAH AND ELISHA – I Kings 19: 16-21; 2 Kings 2:1-16; 3:11
- The prophet Elijah recruited his successor Elisha and apparently tutored him in the ways of the Lord while Elisha ministered to Elijh’s needs.
RUTH AND NAOMI – Ruth 1:16
- And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God:

COLLABORATION QUOTES

All your strength is in unison, all your danger is in discord ~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Working together precedes winning together
Teamwork makes the Dreamwork – Dr. John C. Maxwell