TEAMMATES, Part II

David Dahl does the color for WSU Basketball with Mike Kennedy on the radio. David has been a good friend since college. If you engage him in conversation, you will walk away thinking, “What a great talk.” Then, you will soon realize that you did most of the talking while he listened intently and asked questions

Interestingly, David was on the WSU Basketball team and held records for most assists.

If you’re looking to build a warm and reciprocal team environment, there are five pieces of “kindling wood” to start the flames.

1. Start with yourself. And, you thought I was going to say “Start with Others”. Well, first, we need to be the kind of person that people respect. Show your commitment to the team. Be a leader in practice. Go that “Extra”.

2. Show interest in others. Go to another event practice. Take in a Throws practice or a Multis workout. Get to know them in their element.

Sit down with someone new at lunch. Ask about them. Don’t talk about yourself. What are there outside interests? What’s their major? How many brothers and sisters? Etc. And, most important, LISTEN!

3. Encourage them. Don’t overdo it but look for opportunities to say something at practice. Or, compliment them on the way they handled a workout.

4. Be sincere. You know when someone is being “real” with you. This will not work unless you are truly interested in making it work. Along with that, don’t force anything. Let it happen naturally.

5. Pray for opportunities to reach out.

“Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion,² then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind.” Phillipians 2:1-2

Let’s pray: Father, we ask that these verses would become reality in our lives. Thank you.

Amen

Be encouraged by His Loving presence,

Larry