Time to Get in "Shape"

S - Strengths. Being sure each teammate is in a position that allows them to operate out of their unique strengths instead of stretching and forcing them to produce from a position of weakness.  

H - Heart. Do they have a passion for what they do and how they do it? Are they fired up and see their work from a perspective of service, or are they just collecting a paycheck? 

A - Attitude. Attitude (with action) is everything. A great performer with a bad attitude is toxic to the team. People who suffer "greener pasture syndrome" should be free to find one.  

P - Personality. Everyone has a different personality type. Be sure the responsibilities each teammate has fits them. The right talent in a job that requires a different personality will flounder. This is where personality studies like DiSC and others can be very helpful. 

E - Experiences. Not just their work experience, but their life experiences. How have their habits, beliefs, and behaviors been shaped over time? Teammates will bring all of that into their workplace. For example, veterans and former athletes are generally a good fit for roles that require high levels of discipline and consistent execution.  

"Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Christ's body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other. In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well." (Romans 12:4-6)

A highly productive leader makes sure his team is in good "shape". They also will also do a self-assessment to ensure they are as well. Just because you got the title, doesn't mean you have stopped developing.

Keep yourself in good "shape" if you want others to be. 

Paul reminds us in Romans that we are all parts of one body and are responsible to each other. Also, we all have different gifts to be deployed differently for the same purpose. Honor those differences and learn to leverage them in the unique way they were designed.   

If you find yourself in constant friction with others, it just may mean that you or someone may be out of "shape". Take the time to assess, lead with wisdom, and love each other enough to care. Time to get in "shape".