I love watching the Tour de France! It has intrigued me for many years. I watch as the fiercest competitors work together trying to break away from the Peloton each digging deep in an attempt to win a stage. It is rare to watch two people break away that don’t work together but it happens. It happened on Thursday as two riders in the breakaway successfully got free of the main field. Initially their common objective was to break free but after they succeed in breaking free one rider lost focus and became self centered, refusing to collaborate making the race more difficult not only for himself but also the other rider. The lead rider maintained focus in the face of this adversity, they were able to stay free of the main field and he eventually won the stage over his less cooperative partner. As I watched I saw several parallels between this breakaway and the everyday work environment; there was a common mission, but not a common commitment to the mission. The following are characteristics when lack of commitment sets in:
· Loss of Focus – when you can’t or don’t choose to strive towards your objectives
· Loss of Servant Heart – when you choose yourself above others
· Increase of Pride - when you are a big deal and you let everyone else know it
· Increased Insecurities – when you crave affirmation more than you affirm
· Little or no joy in the success of others – happiness is a choice not a feeling
When did cooperation and serving others ever lead to a negative outcome? I challenge you to not be sandpaper in someone’s life this week. Do what you can to work together, work smarter and view your work as a form of worship. If we let God lead out, we can break away and shine every time! Enjoy the collaboration that will come from a recommitted focus to the goal of advancing God’s Kingdom!