If you have a vehicle, you know the importance of changing the oil and rotating the tires. Maintenance is not usually urgent, but it is valuable and can save many headaches later. Earlier this month, Heralds of Hope had a “maintenance” day. How can maintenance be done on people? Good question: this is a summary of the day and some of the takeaways I had.
Matt King from Team Verve facilitated the day and did a very good job. (Thanks, Matt.) The topic for the day was The Five Behaviors of a Cohesive Team. This main theme was divided into 5 sub-topics, and we had a session on each behavior. Here is a summary of our sessions.
As you can see, trust is the biggest, and it is on the bottom. I was reminded how foundational trust is in every relationship. If trust is missing, the relationship will not grow. Trust is earned—not demanded or deserved. To earn trust, we will be open and honest. Suspicion and doubt won’t grow in this environment. When there is trust, we are not easily offended and will overlook the mistakes of others. With trust as the foundation, we can have hard conversations and take the relationship to the next level.
Another takeaway, and a personal challenge, was the session on accountability. I desire accountability and want to live it out. Yet the things that build accountability are the same things I shy away from doing. Avoiding hard conversations and not asking the burning question is easier in the moment. However, the fruit is bitter. The issue usually grows and becomes more complex. I was challenged to take accountability deeper. Am I willing to do the hard work and “go there” with others?
The teaching was not new or revolutionary, and maintenance work normally isn’t. It was just solid teaching with many reminders of truths that help our work flow smoothly. I was blessed to be a part of the day, and I hope those who work with me see some growth.
-Arlin Horst