Coming together is the beginning!

Coming together in the beginning is easy, staying together is harder.

This week I want to begin to explore TEAM work, not a new concept however one that continually causes leaders problems, why? Oh! We briefly throw in a team working day or an activity or even worse don’t take the time to build an effective team, there is so much more to bringing people together.


We will look at team work using the Action Centred Leadership (ACL) model developed by, professor John Adair developed action Centred Leadership, when he worked as a management expert developing leaders within the military.  This model I have used for a long time it was instilled in me during my time in the RAF, this theory on management development is widely accepted as it has been proven to work and if implemented does make a step change in performance of managers.

His theory of ACL is further explored in one of his books “The Leadership of Jesus Christ” a book I can recommend, lessons from this model and book have stood me well either teaching or preaching on leadership within the church.

Action Centred Leadership (ACL)

  Task

        Team                Individual

An effective leader will keep all three areas together equally

Team Working (Together Everyone Achieves More) definition
Team working skills include the mix of interactive, interpersonal, problem solving and communication skills needed by a group of people working towards a common task or goal, whose outcomes are greater than those possible by any one person working independently.

The Apostle Paul worked hard to bring together differing views and amidst a diverse population when he was in Ephesus.  Paul talks about individual attitude and also the attitude of the corporate body.  Paul invested time and worked at team building. Think of Paul in modern day terms he was a coach, building his team from a diverse group into a unified team.

Ask yourself the following?

·     Am I building people, or building my kingdom and using people?
·     Am I listening with more than my ears?
·     Am I asking the right questions to develop the right relationships
·     What are the strengths and gifts of each individual?
·     How can I use those strengths and gifts to benefit the body?
·     Have they bought into the vision?
·     Are their goals compatible with mine?

Further lessons on team work will be explored from time to time.

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