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July 26. Would You Be My Partner?
How could you expand your partnerships?
I am a proponent of building teams. I think and have often shared about leaders and entrepreneurs using external teams that can bring us value as well as using our own internal teams to deliver value. But choosing your external partners is a very important decision. That choice may be possibly bigger than what your current interpretation includes. The choice will affect your team members, your family, possibly your value proposition itself and even your other external partners.
Imagine what would happen if your communications technology providers failed and shut down your services one day! Imagine no internet access, no cell phone or landlines are available today for your team. One day turns into two. Two turns into a week. Your technology partner has broken down.
Would your team, your other partners, your customer relationships with you be affected? Some partnerships are not designed to be permanent, and some are. Where might you need to find a new partner? Some partners may be willing to grow and change with you as your value becomes greater while other partners may not.
If you had a new partner connected to your team what is the most beneficial thing that they could do which would benefit your internal team, your clientele, and other vendors? Choose wisely as you may start to see the exponential effect of these choices. The choice itself can be a catalyst for value.
Leading by being willing to explore, evaluate and choosing can lead to executing. Where will you start, I wonder. What is the first thing that you can do about it in the next seven days?
As brothers and sisters in Christ we have become a people gathered. But we are in a relationship that is purposed for growth. In the farming world a landowner has their ground examined and tested for what specific areas need strengthened for the specific crops they want to grow.
Not every fertilizer would be appropriate to apply. This is just like each of us is not the right growth partner for everyone we encounter. We read, "Then Eliezer ...prophesied against Jehoshaphat. He said, 'Because you have allied yourself with King Ahaziah, the LORD will destroy your work.' So, the ships met with disaster and never put out to sea.” 2 Chronicles 20:37 NLT.
Although our long-term connection with some of our partners might not be a right fit, we know that the Holy Spirit is. Where do you have a right fit connection with others of the faith? How might you show your appreciation and let them know how they are valuable to your growth and future?
If you have unfit connections like Ahaziah in the reading, what is the first thing you can do to right your ship? It is simple to see and understand that when you put the silverware utensils in the drawer that the forks fit well with the forks, not the spoons. Both spoons and forks are in the utensil tray though.
As a leader it can be intimidating to ask someone who has served as a fork to leave the spoon area where you found them. We remember that just because something is simple does not mean it is easy. Many times, the simplest things are those that can grow our relationships and connections with Jesus.
What can you do about it in the next seven days?
Let us pray, Heavenly Father, thank you for our partners on earth. We experience joy because of them but there is no greater joy than the joy we find in you, in Christ and the Holy Spirit. May we be intentional about our partners here on the earth and ask that you bless our connections.
May we have the courage to find blessings where they might not exist now. Make our church stronger than the utensil tray and guide us to find our place. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen,
