Growing in greatness, together.

There is power and greatness beckoning when looking at a group of cohesive and diverse individuals in comparison to an individual running alone on a task or seemingly great innovation. Now, don't get me wrong too early. I am absolutely an advocate of going against the crowd's trends, being one's own thinker, and offering unique points of view. I walk in a unique niche daily and am constantly sharing education as to why I approach situations the way I do in order to improve the way others are navigating the same situation. The creative go-getter, the fanatically determined entrepreneur, and the eclectic lovable personality with no lane but his or her own.... I get you, and adore your perspective!

The point I want to hammer home is that we have ALL been created with unique strengths, tendencies, access to resources, areas leaving room for growth, and varying approaches to every circumstance. The beauty comes when we are self aware enough to recognize our own uniqueness AND those unique aspects of another and pair them with a humble willingness to dialogue on how our differences compliment the greater mission in common. This is diversity and inclusion at it's finest. Humble, intentional, human to human understanding and collaboration. This practice of awareness, dialogue, and implementation can be applied to our work teams, our community efforts, and even within our own home. By working to compliment another's area of weakness with mutually identified strengths, more talent can be applied to creating a solution or move in amplifying momentum.

What do I mean? Think about two siblings trying to climb a tree that neither can climb on their own. One is short and strong, the other is tall and thoughtful. If the tall and thoughtful one is willing to give the short and strong one a boost on his/her shoulders up to the initial limb, the short and strong one can then pull the other up. They then both accomplished a mutual goal which was out of reach for either to gain on their own merit. Of course one may argue that either could have gone to get a ladder, used a rope, created a platform of stable materials to ensure success, but there was no mention of guaranteed access to those resources..... simply two siblings and a tree.

When we assume "oh they'll be fine," or "they'll figure it out eventually" without taking the time to ask if they in fact will be fine or would like to figure it out independently, we automatically declare a breech in the relationship strength. Harsh? Not really, just an unconscious choice to remain independent. If we ask, and allow another to take onus on whether or not they're willing to collaborate, partner, or share resources, we have now opened the door for dialogue and opportunities to discover best approaches as a team.

All of this may seem beyond simplistic, but I can almost guarantee you've been walking to your car after buying one item at a grocery store, casually enjoying the weather and the fresh air while watching a mom wrangle her 3 children to stay near the cart while loading her trunk and at least one child is on the verge of a meltdown. Yep. Did you happen to ask her if you could hold the cart still, bring it back for her after she loads the kids and groceries, offer the gift card you've been saving in your wallet? Maybe, maybe it's an opportunity to look for next time. Maybe not every time, but don't keep it from your repertoire. How about that time you went to the kitchen at work to refill your coffee and saw a co-worker (teammate) cleaning up a mess that may not have even been theirs to begin with. They are wiping sugar granules off the counter top, wiping off the front of the cabinet where a brown stream of coffee had escaped it's intended container, and there are still empty creamer containers opened and laying mostly empty on their side further down the counter. What assistance did you offer so that your coworker and yourself could both make the meeting on time?

My point is, you don't have to go above and beyond yourself in a way that hinders your own performance or takes you away from deadlines that impact the entire organization (family and/or professional), but your awareness to the strength or resource access that is currently overflowing in your own life can be the opportunity or boost another person needed to get to the next moment in their day. By working together in greatness, there is then someone to celebrate with. By complimenting time, energy, knowledge, resources - the end result can grow enormously. By recognizing that we all have something to offer, but everyone's offering will be unique, we can openly walk through our days with a curiosity for others. Who are they, what environment do they come from, what have they overcome up to this point in their life, and how does that coincide with the mission of my day, my personality, my life?

So in this season where more people gather than I suppose other times of the year, I encourage you to take a self-inventory in a realistic fashion. Gain some insight on where you stand in mission, vision, values, and resources (without too much presumption attached), and begin to ask questions and dialogue with those around you. It may not be a life changing exchange, but then again - what seems small in your perspective may be revolutionary from someone standing on the other side. So go, grow great - together.