Leadership Team: Division or Diversity?
When forming a team, it is imperative to know the difference between Division and Diversity. Any group of people referred to as a team, must be committed to relationships. However, one of the greatest strengths of that team and the blending of personalities is its diversity. Healthy teams celebrate and leverage their diversity, avoiding the chaos of division.
The Apostle Paul obviously recognized this reality: he addressed it several times in his writings. In 1 Thessalonians he encourages and comforts, but also corrects, several issues within the church. One of those issues was church tension, 1 Thessalonians 5:12-15.
Drawing from his teaching I want to share some guidelines for personal relationships within the body of Christ that aid in the leadership team dilemma.
Respect Your Co-Workers
We work on a team beside people with different gifts, abilities and personalities. Each person brings value to the team even if they may not possess our favorite type of personality. Regardless, we are to appreciate them and to show respect.
Esteem Your Team Leader
Esteeming is the idea of “holding in highest regard” or to “value.” This is a conscious decision on our part regarding the team leader and other members. This is more than an action and should be obvious in our attitude. It will manifest itself in servitude not just compliance.
Be Peaceable with Everyone
When we show respect to our co-workers and value our leaders enough to follow their agenda, the by-product is usually peace. The challenge in this passage is actually to maintain that peace.
Motivate the Idle
Everyone on the team needs to contribute. It is the responsibility of each team member to help motivate those who are neglecting their duties.
Encourage the Struggling
We all struggle. None of us is ever “on our game” all the time. We work as a team so we can help another team member who is weak. We help and encourage them through the hard time.
Do Not Retaliate
Paul gives one more charge to the team that is tough. He warns that even when someone does you wrong…do not retaliate. Instead of retaliation, do good to them. This goes against our nature but following this biblical mandate solves a plethora of team issues.
We can ignore these components but failure to incorporate them into a leadership team could destroy it. The choice is up to us to determine if we are going to create Division or Diversity.
