Finding Your Flock

What was the best team you’ve ever been on? What made your time together special? How did you feel when you were around them?

There’s nothing like working with a team or group who have a common goal. The energy, support, synergy, and productivity that comes from those relationships are invaluable. As I look back at my life, some of the most meaningful relationships to this day are with my former teammates, or staff that work with me to accomplish a common goal.

Their support helped motivate me when things got hard, and sometimes the only thing that kept me going was not disappointing the group.

That’s a part of what makes transitioning to life after athletics so difficult. You not only miss the games, but you also miss the road trips, or the conversations in the locker room before practice. There is something about having a team around you to bond with and support you in accomplishing your goals.

The problem is the fact that most people don’t have a team around them that helps give them the energy to accomplish their goals. Too many people are trying to accomplish their goals alone, or with insufficient support.

The mistake a lot of people make is that they continue to allow the people of their past to continue to influence their future. Just because someone was in your life in the past, doesn’t mean they are equipped to steward your future.

It’s important to make sure we make sure we have a team of people around us to help us when we need it. Here are a few attributes we need from your flock.

1. Common Values. Having people around you that have common values are critical to you living our your personal, relational, and professional goals. Your values not only help guide what you do, but also how and why you do it. Having people around you that can help keep you accountable for being true to your values could prove to be invaluable. Especially, when there are so many people around you that would allow you to cross lines of integrity.
2. Common Vision. Scripture say, “Can two walk together unless they are agreed?” Having people around you that have a similar vision and purpose can serve as an essential element to you actually accomplishing your goals. Having people around you that are headed in the same direction as you can be invaluable, especially when you get discouraged or need help. It’s always easier to help someone going in the same direction that you are already headed.
3. Relevant Experience. Do the people around you have any knowledge, or expertise in what you are trying to accomplish? When you find yourself spinning your wheels trying to figure out what to do next, there is probably someone that could solve your problem easily. Everyone has strengths and weaknesses. It’s important to evaluate the skill set of the people around you to make sure you have access to the right types of voices and experience that can help.