I have always been a team player and never cared much for individual sports or careers. As a kid I loved being on a team, be it basketball, baseball or football, it was where I wanted to be. Later in life I had that same feeling for being part of a ‘crew’. In construction the closest thing you have to a brother is your crew mate.
Any of you who have been in the service and especially if you have seen combat know this feeling better than anyone. Your very life is in the hands of one of your unit, no matter at the platoon or squad level. Brothers in arms. It is the same if you are going to form a safe and productive work crew.
For any crew to function to it’s full potential it needs a person to direct the talent and keep each person working with the feeling of accomplishment. I have to say, without boasting, that was my gift. I could take a bunch of guys who were completely dysfunctional and turn them into a team.
There are many considerations in being a ‘boss’ but a few of the most important is being able to listen and also being humble enough to learn even from the least of experienced of workers. I was not always so good with these two things and it took a particular instance for me to grasp them fully. Yeah, this is leading to another story, here is how it goes.
I was promoted to foreman the first time when I was still in my apprenticeship. That is not unusual, most programs insist that sometime during your learning years you be in charge of work. What was unusual about this was that most of the time it occurs during the last year of apprenticeship but in my case, I was in my first year. Being raised by a father who was in the trades as a plasterer and builder, I learned early how to read construction plans. Also, I have always had a knack for putting things together. So, when the company I was working for came up short a foreman the union steward pushed me forward and said, “I think this kid can do it.” The general foreman was reluctant but shrugged and said, “It’s your funeral, if he can’t do the job, you better have an experienced guy out here tomorrow.” No pressure, right?
So that day I went from crew ‘punk’, the go-fer of the gang to its boss. The strange thing was that I was not scared, I wanted the job and was sure I could do it. There was only one problem, my crew.
This crew consisted of five guys and now me as foreman. Four of them were journeymen of many years and they weren’t a bit happy to have a punk boss. I could see it in their eyes, it was shark time and I was the bait. The other guy was an apprentice like me. He had just come on the job this morning and was greener than I was.
I had no time to think of any of this, I knew what we needed to get done and how to do it, so I laid out the plan for the day and got us going. The old guys complained and drug their feet but when they saw I was willing to work just as hard as they did, things evened out by morning break. It was during this break that the new guy came up to me and suggested something he thought could make our work faster and more efficient. I shrugged him off. What do you know? I thought. I was feeling my new position and was not about to let someone steal my thunder.
As the rest of the day went by, I could see the idea that kid had was right. But I just couldn’t accept it. If I did, wouldn’t that make me look stupid? Maybe they would promote him, and I would be back punking, in shame. What a dilemma.
Have you been there? Maybe on your job, or with one of your kids. You’re in a position of leadership and someone maybe when you least expect it comes up with a better plan. Your pride or fear of loss of respect keeps you from accepting what could be best for all. Because of it more than just lost time or money is the result. You have weakened the team because of pride or insecurity.
Since I have become a follower of Jesus, I like so many have an erroneous idea that churches would never have such problems. After all we are Christians, right? We are loving and accepting but the truth is we are humans in need of a Savior. Churches struggle with the same issues. We have some who think, “Hey, that new guy can’t tell me anything. I have been a Christian all my life!” But is that what the Bible says?
The Apostle Paul has a lot to say about this and I do not have enough room to write it all here, but I think this is a good synopsis, “There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service but the same Lord. There are different kinds of workings, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. (1 Corinthians 12: 4-5). Again, he says so much more, you should read all of Chapter 12. But that last line of verse 5 is so important to remember, “…but in all of them (gifts) and in everyone is the same God at work. If we can remember that God has gifts for each of us to use and be open to listening and be humble enough to believe that all gifts come from God. We will be ready for Jesus soon coming and our churches will be overflowing.
It took me as a fledging boss over a week to admit that young man in my crew was a smart cookie and for me to be able not only to accept his ideas but bring him to the notice of the company bosses. He went on to be a great Ironworker and eventually a superintendent of a large company. As for me I learned a valuable lesson that has served me well, listen and be humble enough to allow others ‘gifts’ to be used for the better of the work. I pray I will always apply this to God’s work too. Think about it!
Blessings and Happy Sabbath,
John
8/17/18
