I was once asked by a mentor of mine, “What would your staff say about your ability to manage your emotions?” WOW! That question hit me like a ton of bricks because I knew I struggled keeping my emotions in check in all situations. I am a passionate person that does everything big and not just because I live in Texas, but because that is how God hard wired me.
So I got to thinking, that’s a tough question that requires a great deal of introspection, doesn’t it? Can you answer it, honestly? Do you even know what impact your emotional responses have on your team?
Well, in order to be a truly effective leader, you must be able to create not only a culture of respect but one that produces creative results as well. Creating a respectful culture is a tall order. Because not only do you have to control your own emotions but you must also manage the emotions of others. One truth I have witness over the years in HR is that people in a group catch emotions from one another. That can be a scary truth, can’t it? If you can’t maintain positive emotions how can your team?
So how do we connect with our teams to be as productive as possible all the while bringing God the Glory? It is actually a very simple concept but because of our personalities and emotional responses we mess it up with great complexity! Over the next few weeks I will be examining what God has to say about teams. The way I see it, a team that is designed by God has 5 major parts: Trust, Conflict, Commitment, Accountability and Achieving Results.
Let me begin with Trust…
1. Trust first in God, second in others
Trust in the Lord First – Proverbs 3:5-6 says Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will direct your paths. I was designed by God and for God, first I must trust in Him! Everyday I have to live in biblical hope that He will not forsake me and I will be under His protection. And that He has a bigger plan for my life than I even have for myself. See, simple concept, hard to live out.
Trust is Active – The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body so it is with Christ. 1 Corinthians 12:12. At Fellowship Technologies we work as one unit as a body of Christ; therefore, we are called higher to show the world that we actively work as one unit for Christ. So everyday I have to be intentionally active in how I trust God first and then how I trust each of my co-workers. But actively trusting people takes time, is never complete and must be maintained. Join me next week to learn three ways you can maintain the foundation of trusting others.
Trusting Him, Tammy