Four Habits Leaders Practice to Motivate Team Spirit

I am taking the last two weeks of July for some time off and creativity. This was one of my previous blogs that many found helpful. I will begin new content on August 5, 2020.

Facing his share of victories and defeats, King David was no different than any other leader. His memory was pounding with the failure of the last opportunity he and his people had to possess the Ark. But this was a new day, a blank paper, wet cement, an untold story waiting to be told.  Once again, they possessed the sacred Ark. Would they follow practice or impulse? (1 Chronicles 15)

Leaders are called upon to make decisions which influence the lives of one or countless numbers of people. Only a novice leader would be surprised by this type of pressure; veterans recognize it simply as the calling . . . the price tag of leadership.

Perhaps some leaders are good enough to make those “spur of the minute decisions” and pull off a victory. You know those people. They seem to always make the right call – send in the right play at the buzzer just as the time on the game clock expires.

But what about the majority of us?

All of us as leaders can get it right sometimes when put on the spot, but do we really want to live that way? There is a better way to lead than throwing darts at the board blindfolded. As leaders we owe it to our people to lead them through habits and practices we have perfected, not by impulse.

I realize the message of this passage is larger than a leadership lesson, however there are leadership practices to be drawn from David’s experience in 1 Chronicles 15 which have helped me.

1. Make a Plan. – (vs. 1-12) It is easier to get excited about a project than to take time to make a plan. Knowing what you are going to do is not enough. You need to know why, where, who and when before you hurry off in all directions. Get the big picture so you can follow the template and share it with others. This will motivate a team spirit.
2. Do it Right. – (vs. 13-15) David reminded the priests how handling the Ark improperly ended in disaster (1 Chronicles 13:6-11) and admonishes them to take time to do it properly. It is better to slow the process down and do it right than to have an inferior finished product. I had a boss who used to remind me that if I did not have time to do the job right the first time, I sure would not have time to invest the second time around. Taking time to instruct people motivates team spirit.
3. Know your People. – (vs. 16-24) Give people opportunity to serve in areas according to their strengths. In order to do this, you will need to know your people. David made assignments according to their strengths and they all participated enthusiastically. As leaders we have an incredible opportunity for developing individuals and team spirit when we delegate to help people grow rather than to give away a task we do not want to do. Delegating for growth motivates team spirit.
4. Expect the Opposition. – (v. 29) Leaders understand there will always be opposition even in the midst of rejoicing and victory. We all know what it is like to speak to a group which is totally engaged – and yet tend to focus on the one person who is not happy with our message. David and all the people were dancing and rejoicing, yet his wife Michal was displeased. Leaders learn from but do not focus on the opposition. When leaders learn from opposition, but keep the big picture, it motivates team spirit.

It is imperative we motivate team spirit with the people God has placed under our care. There is so much more to be accomplished when we work as a team rather than as a group of individuals. If we implement habits into our lives which we practice faithfully, we can make a difference.

What have you used to make a difference?