Choose to Collaborate

 

 

There was a time when I conducted my working life as a lone ranger. I felt I had to be the one to make things happen. I. Me. Myself.

I preferred working on my own. If there was something to be done, I’d rather you just give me the task so I can get on with it. Don’t ask me to work with someone else. Don’t expect me to be a team member.

In fact, most of the jobs I had in my early years were jobs where I was solely responsible for getting the job done – legal secretary, personal assistant, professional dogsbody!

I held jobs where I worked my socks off, not just doing what was expected of me but over and above. I had positions where I worked beyond the remit of my humble job title, supporting my boss by taking on tasks that were properly his/hers. I prided myself on my flexibility, my accuracy, my excellence, my dependability, my resourcefulness. I suppose I was secretly seeking self-glory.

Then work-life changed. It was probably down to a combination of:

1. Changes in the modern world of employment and
2. God wanting to change my outlook and modus operandi.

So, instead of the superstar, the bright spark, the absolute God-send that I’d worked hard at becoming, there was now no “I” because of course as we all know, there is no “I” in TEAM!

To my dismay, the new order of things meant I had to work in a team. To my mind, this was a negative. Why? Because teams had individuals with different outlooks, different priorities, different abilities and agendas. To me, teams represented a subsuming of myself, a not necessarily advantageous blending of abilities, a potential shirking of responsibilities and a grabbing of undeserved glory.

I hated the very idea of depending on someone else, shoring up, or covering up the weaknesses of others. I was blind and selfish, so teamwork (at least my view of it) just didn’t serve my aspirations.

 

And then for over 5 years, I worked as a voluntary editor within a team of editors for a Christian publication (Magnet) and through this, I learned about collaboration. I realised that a team could be a winning combination. What we accomplished together as a group of editors was so much better than anything we could have done separately as individuals.

Now, in recent months, more and more, as I expose myself to the thoughts and ideas and strategies of high achievers and successful entrepreneurs, I see that collaboration is key.

When I think of my favourite comedy shows, such as Frasier, or Everyone Loves Raymond, I see the fruits of collaboration. Great writers, talented actors, committed behind-the-scene workers make for a brilliant and winning combination.

And, no doubt as bloggers, as writers, you have come across successful individuals who have joined forces with others, pooling their skills and interests to create a bigger and better venture than anything they could achieve, if they worked on their own. Two successful writing blogs which immediately spring to mind as shining examples are:

• Write to Live, Live to Write and
• Two Drops of Ink (check them out).

Dear reader, as a purpose-driven believer and aspiring dream achiever, do you recognise the power of collaboration? Are you, or will you consider joining forces with another, with others, in order to achieve a higher dream, a greater-reaching purpose?

If you don’t know anyone, or don’t currently feel you are ready to work with someone else on a project, have you considered the three awesome members of the Godhead? Meet these highly adept team members. God the Father. Jesus Christ, the Son. The inimitable Holy Spirit. They are the ultimate “A” team.

 

When it comes to your projects and ventures, why not invite them on board as counsellor, inspirer, mentor and motivator, even creative director.

I can absolutely guarantee that they will not lead you astray, they will not slacken on the job and they will not let you down. In fact, they are capable of enabling you to achieve exceedingly, abundantly above your highest ideas, desires and dreams.

Trust me – they can and, if you’ll let them, they will make you a winner!

 

SELF SCRUTINY

Are your currently collaborating with others on something or working as a lone ranger? If the latter, has this post challenged you to change?

 

CREDITS: All the above CC0 images are courtesy of Pixabay.com

 

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