The Secret to Staying in Sync With Your Team Members

If you become too fast for the rest of your team, slow down. You'll be more successful. (Chuttersnap via Unsplash)

My wife Kathleen taught me another valuable lesson last week: I operate at a faster speed than most people, and I often get impatient when people don't keep up.

But we all operate at different speeds because we have different personalities, skill sets and priorities. It's not a question of better or worse, it's a question of adjusting to keep the team operating together—and I'm learning to adjust.

Automotive legend Lee Iacocca was famous for saying, "The speed of the boss is the speed of the team." He wanted to make sure his leaders were out in front, motivating their team to do better.

But knowing the speed of the team—and adjusting when necessary—is a critical requirement for success. For instance, I think fast, write fast and make decisions fast. That can be good sometimes, but it also sets me up to write or say something off the top of my head that I can regret later. Others are process-driven, which means they want to think about it, explore some options and consider the implications before they respond. Which approach is better is determined by the individual situation and there can't be a blanket policy.

Get Spirit-filled content delivered right to your inbox! Click here to subscribe to our newsletter.

The bottom line is that to be successful, you need to know and understand the speed of your family members, team, clients and others you deal with regularly—and be willing to stay in sync.

If you're running fast like I do, take the time to stop and consider the speed of others on the team and make adjustments when necessary. And if you're driven by the process, give the faster members of your team some space to go ahead, while reminding them that thinking through the process can save a lot of grief later.

Without operating at the same speed, a team can get strung out and broken, and unity is impossible. But when a leader and his or her team are operating at the same speed, amazing things can happen.

Whether you need to hit the brakes or gas is up to you. For me, I'm pressing harder on the brakes.

If you have a powerful message or story that could influence the world, media producer, consultant and author Phil Cooke will teach you what you need to know about creativity, communication, Hollywood, media, culture and the faith to make it happen. He's produced TV and film programming in more than 60 countries around the world, Through his company Cooke Media Group in Los Angeles, California, he's helped some of the largest Christian and nonprofit organizations in the world use the media to tell their story in a changing, disrupted culture.

For the original article, visit philcooke.com.

Get Spirit-filled content delivered right to your inbox! Click here to subscribe to our newsletter.

Dr. Steve Greene is now sharing stories, teachings, and conversations with guests who lead with love on Love Leads, a new podcast. Listen now.



Dr. Mark Rutland's

National Institute of Christian Leadership (NICL)

The NICL is one of the top leadership training programs in the U.S. taught by Dr. Mark Rutland. If you're the type of leader that likes to have total control over every aspect of your ministry and your future success, the NICL is right for you!

FREE NICL MINI-COURSE - Enroll for 3-hours of training from Dr. Rutland's full leadership course. Experience the NICL and decide if this training is right for you and your team.

Do you feel stuck? Do you feel like you’re not growing? Do you need help from an expert in leadership? There is no other leadership training like the NICL. Gain the leadership skills and confidence you need to lead your church, business or ministry. Get ready to accomplish all of your God-given dreams. CLICK HERE for NICL training dates and details.

The NICL Online is an option for any leader with time or schedule constraints. It's also for leaders who want to expedite their training to receive advanced standing for Master Level credit hours. Work through Dr. Rutland's full training from the comfort of your home or ministry at your pace. Learn more about NICL Online. Learn more about NICL Online.

Charisma Leader — Serving and empowering church leaders