Reflections of Leadership Skills
(Piano Movers)
1 Corinthians 12: 12-26
12 Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For we were all baptized by[c] one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. 14 Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.
15 Now if the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? 18 But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. 19 If they were all one part, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, but one body.
21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” 22 On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, 24 while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, 25 so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. 26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.
27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. 28 And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30 Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues[d]? Do all interpret? 31 Now eagerly desire the greater gifts
On a team, individualism is present - but it is not primary!
Individualism is important because each person brings to the team his or her special gifts and abilities but a team that focuses only on the one, or even a few, is not a team.
We derogatorily refer to those kinds of players as a “one man show.” I have realized by serving on the Mitchell County Leadership Team that not one of us is a “one man show.” We are a team and we only move the ball – reach our goal, as we play together.
No one here is more important than another. Our goal as we look to our beloved county needs to be based on the same principles that our Country was based apon as well, the transformation of the whole person through the love and power of Jesus Christ and we cannot do that by ourselves!
Each member is valuable to the end result!
I think of a simple illustration about moving a piano to describe my time with Leadership Mitchell County.
Illustration: To move a piano you should have one person to push it, one person to pull it and guide it and last but not least, and one person to carry the piano stool.
I have thought about each person’s role in this illustration and I believe that one is not greater or more important than the other. They all need to work together to accomplish the task.
I.Time Management
A.These three people, moving the piano need to use time management in order to move the piano.
1.If there are only three people moving this piano, they must take care of the little things in order to move the big thing,…”The Piano”.
2.Make sure the doors are propped open, the pathway is clear and ect,..
3.These may sound like little things but they have to use their time wisely if the job is to be done.
II.Conflict Resolution.
A.How can anything be done with conflict. I believe we all need to have some compassion for others and try to see life through their eyes.
1.Could you imagine these three piano movers arguing while moving an
extremely heavy piano?
2.Leadership Mitchell County has opened my eyes about the importance of dealing with conflict and I believe with all my heart that over 90% of conflict can be not only avoided but dealt with if we can only remember people have feelings too no matter if they are pulling a piano, pushing a piano or even carrying the stool.
III.Communication.
A.I have never stuck my hand in a fire!! No seriously, I never have just stuck my hand in a fire to see what happens.
1.I can remember as a young child camping with my father. He would always tell me. “Don’t stick your hand in that fire.”
2. Why do you suppose I didn’t do it? Simple because he communicated it
to me well enough that I could understand it.
3. I think sometimes we assume that the people we work with know the
same exact things that we do and we fail as leaders in not communicating
to them and the next thing you know, someone gets burned and we want
to blame it on any and every one except ourselves.
IV.Decision Making.
A.Don’t you think the team of piano movers sat down and discussed what needed to happen in order to move that piano?
1.Our world would be in total chaos if no one ever sat and planned out what
was to be done and how it was to be done.
2.I am sure that the piano moving team had to make some decisions as to
How the piano would be moved and also who was to do what part.
V.Team Building.
A.Have you seen movers that are unhappy? Perhaps you have been an unhappy mover in your day. Team building is not just making a team but it is building a happy team that takes pride in their work.
1.This past year for me has been an awesome experience. I feel like I am part of a team. Leadership Mitchell County has truly been a blessing to me in many ways.
2.I believe I have learned much about our community, things that I never would have learned otherwise.
3.My future is unlimited and very bright. I can see a county that has much to offer and leaders within that county that have a burning desire in making our county one of excellence.
Closing:
In closing I would like to tell each of you that I would push, pull, or even carry the stool with everyone one of you. I feel like I have made life long friendships and I look forward in working along side of any one of you in the future.
