My mind’s been focused on teams and leadership lately.
I think it’s Jon’s fault. His conversation with Nehemiah about A Great Work isn’t the sort of thing you can just casually toss aside.
I don’t think of myself as a leader. Neither did Nehemiah. He was a servant. His job was to taste the king’s wine and make sure it wasn’t poisoned—not exactly the resume for a construction manager. So I guess the first lesson might be to relinquish my traditional ideas about who’s a leader and who isn’t.
Here at RICH’S RIDE we relate everything to cycling. Nehemiah’s construction project reminded me of a Team Time Trial. If you’ve never seen one, watch this short video to see how it works and some of the strategy involved.
Can’t see the video? Click here.
Here’s some stuff I see about team time trials that might translate to the God-sized dreams we want to follow.
- The winning team isn’t made up of the most physically gifted riders. A team in a paceline has an insurmountable advantage over a group of individuals.
- The guy in front has to pay attention to what’s going on behind him.
- When the leader takes a “what’s best for me” approach, the following riders spread out for safety and the whole team slows down.
- Everyone’s accountable. Everyone’s empowered. Everyone takes a turn at the front. Weaker riders pull for a few seconds, stronger ones take a longer turn. But the team uses the strengths of every member. When it’s your turn, you’re the guy.
- Following requires trust. It’s hard to ride full-speed right behind someone when you can’t count on their next move.
- The little stuff matters. Small decisions accumulate into big consequences that impact everyone.
- It’s easier to keep up than to catch up. The team trains and rides together and mentors younger riders because success depends on staying together.
As I re-read my list, it describes the family, the church, the organization I want to be part of. It’s the kind of community for which God made us.
In this kind of circle, we can follow big dreams.
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