Reflections on Team Dynamics

by Chris Jones

Journal Prompt

“Sunday’s activities introduced themes of teamwork - how to identify leadership, distribute roles, enact perseverance and flexibility, and employ encouragement in order to “win” no matter the circumstance. What did you learn about yourself from those exercises? Can you identify some roles that you are gifted in, when working on a team?”

My Thoughts

In working in a team, a natural gifting of mine is that I’m much more aware of the whole of the group and how each person is feeling included or excluded than I am over my own personal goals. Though sometimes this is to a detriment. I have a tendency to stay silent and watch someone lead a particular activity or process even if I’m confident there is a better way. 

Following an activity, I’m well suited for talking people through their experience and helping them process it for meaning and growth. 

In regards to yesterday’s activities, I learned that I have wisdom in paying attention, but my pride can deceive me if I let it make decisions for me. For example, when we were running with one of the leaders, I noticed near the end of the second lap he began slowing down and my intuition told me something is about to change, but my old man pride kicked in and I wanted to push myself to out run the younger guys so I overlooked the pace of the leader and began chasing down the younger guys…only to learn the leader changed directions.