Building Blocks of Relationships
We are finishing a short series on making relationships work, the building blocks of relationships. There are four basic elements involved in this process. We have covered three so far:
The last building block to put into place is: PUT THE MISSION and VALUES OF THE “TEAM” FIRST!
Where are you going?
Remember that a team is anything that you do with at least one other person- work, marriage, club, and church- the whole gamut.
Where is the team going? What is the mission of your team?
We are all headed somewhere in life. Most of us know, to a certain extent, where we want to go, and where we’d like to end up. We can choose to stumble along at the whims and wishes of other people, nature, fate, magic, circumstances, etc. Or we can choose the path we want to travel. It is a choice!
Mission statement
A mission statement tells us what our objectives are. Most companies have them, and they are often written on large plaques hung in the lobby, or on every piece of stationery. If yours is anything like ours, then it sounds like a bunch of gobbledy-gook that no one outside of the organization can understand or explain.
A mission statement should say what we do, where we are headed and how we plan to get there. By doing what….exactly?
Clarity
With regard to relationships, the point is this…
At some point in our team interaction, we need to make certain things clear.
We need to be sure that we are on the same mission. We need to be sure that we are all trying to get to the same place, reach the same goal. And, if we are a team, that we are going the same “place” together.
Values
I said at the beginning that we need to put mission and values first. So, where do the values come in?
We also need to be sure that we have the same or very similar values that keep us on the same road, and moving in the same direction together.
Our core values speak to who we really are, what we think we are all about, and what is absolutely and vitally important to us. It’s the bottom line for what we choose, and do not choose, to do.
For instance: if the truth is valuable to you, and lying to someone is a line you positively will not cross- then it will be hard to be in a well-functioning team with a person who lies all the time, or is not disturbed by it.
So what’s the bottom line?
The same mission
· Where are we going?
· What are we trying to accomplish?
· How are we going to get there?
Same/ very similar values
· What’s important?
· What are the boundaries for the things we will not consider?
· How are we going to stay on this path together?
Does everyone on the team know the mission, and what’s important?
Is everyone working toward the same goal?
Take a look at your mission statement at work. Does it make sense? Could you explain to a non-employee in a few words?
Do you have a mission statement for your life?
For your team? Is it something you should think about?
What are your core values? Does everyone know? Are they all on the same page?
