The difference between unity and unanimity in your team
- From ReadItAndDoIt.com
READ IT - Today’s chapter: 1 Samuel 29
When our family goes out to eat, it’s tough to get everyone to agree about where to go. I can probably count on one hand the number of times we’ve had an immediate, unanimous selection. If one of our boys wants to eat Mexican, then the other two will inevitably want buffalo wings. If two say they want burgers, the third will want pancakes.
Erin and I usually quietly listen to their opinions, and then we select one of the options they mentioned. The boys have learned that once mom and dad have announced where we’re going, there is not much point in arguing. They might as well do their best to get excited about our choice and start thinking about what they’re going to order. Even when we can’t get unanimity, it’s amazing how quickly we can get unity.
Achish and the commanders of the Philistine forces are having trouble achieving a unanimous choice about the best course of action as they head into battle. Achish trusts David completely. He is so convinced David and his men will be loyal to him and will fight against their fellow Israelites that he has even named David as his permanent bodyguard (28:2). Of course, he is basing his opinion on the lies David has been telling him about which cities he and his men have been plundering.
The Philistine commanders, however, recognize that taking David into a battle against the Israelites is a huge risk. They know he could turn on them during the fighting, which is probably exactly what he would have done. They’re convinced the best course of action is to send David back to his home in Ziklag.
Achish recognizes the importance of unity, so he capitulates and asks David to leave. He knows that if the Philistine leaders don’t have complete trust in each other in battle, they’ll be their own worst enemy. Instead of making decisions based on strategy and strength, they’ll each be forced to look out for themselves. Rather than being focused on the enemy across the field, they’ll be simultaneously looking for enemies within their own ranks.
It’s hard to move forward as a team when you’re constantly worried about sneak attacks or being undermined. But it can be just as hard to get everyone on a team to unanimously agree on the best course of action. Fortunately, unity and unanimity are not the same thing.
Unity is not the absence of conflict. In fact, when conflict is handled well it promotes unity. (Tweet this!) When a team values progress over individual recognition, they can collectively come up with better solutions than any one individual ever could. On a healthy team, a disagreement about the best course of action can become a tool that propels them toward the best possible solution.
But when individuals have their own agendas and refuse to consider any ideas other than their own, unity becomes impossible. The dissension and backbiting result in a group of people (which I won’t even refer to as a team) who stay on the defensive, since like the Philistine leaders they have to beware of enemies within their own ranks. Their "kill or be killed" mentality ensures that what gets killed is any hope for unity.
Do you contribute to a healthy team culture? When the majority of your team decides to move forward with an idea you don’t think is the best option, are you ultimately still able to get behind it and give it your full support? Remember: unity is not unanimity. Being a team player means knowing the difference.
DO IT - Today’s assignment may surprise you. We can have unity with our political leaders, even when we don’t have unanimity. You can be an encouragement to a politician with a different perspective on the issues from yours. Contact some of your elected representatives and let them know you’re praying for them. Ask if they have any specific prayer requests. Show them God’s love in a practical way with no strings attached.