WHAT

We have all heard in a variety of contexts the encouragement to never question the power of one. Perhaps you’ve heard it from a mentor or a good friend or colleague who affirmed a unique aspect of your giftedness. Maybe you’ve been the encourager or the truth-teller or the idea generator with a member of your team or as a parent with one of your kids. I know I have been on both ends of that equation as a recipient and as the one providing encouragement.  

History is full of stories of movements that were ignited by the actions of one person who passionately believed in something and connected that belief to action.  

We see this scenario played out in every sector of life – culture, business, the church. Some are more widely known than others, like Martin Luther King, Junior whose story and impact on our culture reverberates yet today.  Or Mark Zuckerberg, whose Harvard experiment birthed the digital social revolution.

Some are less known. One of my all-time favorites is Henrietta Mears.  For those that don’t know the name, you’ll be surprised that she was a Director of Christian Education and Sunday school teacher at First Presbyterian Church Hollywood.  She grew the Sunday School program from 400 to 6500. Impressive in and of itself.  But she also profoundly impacted the ministries of Bill and Vonette Bright (Campus Crusade), Jim Rayburn (Young Life), and Billy Graham. Mears is believed by many theologians to have most directly shaped Bill Bright’s Four Spiritual Laws, which defined modern evangelism in the 20th century.

One cannot deny the power of individuals committed to their cause.

So why the title for this post, The Power of More Than One?  Good question.  Here are a couple of thoughts:

First, though movements may be started by one person, they are never grown or sustained by an individual.  Movements’ greatest impact and transformation are the result of many. Movement leaders carry the torch but they are surrounded and supported by teams of people and communities and networks that create the fuel for change.

Second, “one is the loneliest number”. Besides being the Three Dog Night 1968 hit, it’s the truth.  And even a cursory search of the internet will lead to discovery of story after story of leaders whose oneness led to loneliness which led to isolation and resulted in tragic ends.  Again, in every sector – culture, business and most tragically the church.

SO WHAT

So, wherever you find yourself leading, know the strength and gifts that you bring to influence change.  But superpower those gifts with the power of more than one.  

Take some time today to build up your team.  

Ask yourself, who is in my circle that knows me well enough to ask the hard questions and love me well through the hard seasons of leading. If you don’t have that person(s), think about who it could be and make the ask.

NOW WHAT

Check out this article for 22 innovative ways to improve teamwork in the workplace.  This article includes things like clarify ownership, talk less and listen more and my personal favorite, avoid cringe-worthy team-building exercises!

Some thoughts on how to avoid isolation at the top?

• Make a new friend on purpose.
• If you don’t have mentors in your life, seek some out. If you do, ask yourself when’s the last time you checked in?
• Connect with a peer group. You can find a few options here.

WHO KNEW

Quotes worth re-quoting.

“Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.” – Helen Keller

“Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence win championships.” – Michael Jordan

“Teamwork begins by building trust. And the only way to do that is to overcome our need for invulnerability.” – Patrick Lencioni

“If you want to lift yourself up, lift up someone else.” – Booker T. Washington

“None of us, including me, ever do great things. But we can all do small things, with great love, and together we can do something wonderful.” – Mother Teresa