I am a member of a 150 year old Protestant denomination called “Covenant.” I have been learning more about our denomination’s history the last year or so, and some of its founding principles. One of its main principles is that we are all Christian brothers and sisters working together for the common cause of Christ. Our particular church location adopted the theme “in it together” this year, to emphasize the relevance and applicability of our denomination’s founding beliefs in today’s society.
I have recently realized that this motto is not just applicable for those in our denomination or for Christians in general, but for all people. It emphasizes a team spirit in accomplishing common goals such as our construction projects, and gives a positive way of looking at solving problems, when all team members realize that, when one of us has a problem, we all have a problem.
The above philosophy leads toward an all-for-one and one-for-all “three musketeers” attitude among team members, and can make a person realize that most any problem can be put into proper perspective and solved expeditiously, if one realizes how much potential support exists within the team in the form of the other team members.
I’ve expressed “in it together” to our customers and co-laborers on projects recently, and have been pleasantly surprised with how in agreement people are with the philosophy. Just talking about it builds team attitude. When problems later arise and we all work together to solve the problem, or when people abandon their own work efforts for a minute or two to help someone else who is struggling and needs a bit of help to keep their work going, it reinforces the team building in an even more demonstrative physical way.
“In it together” has become my theme verse this year in everything I do. It has comforted me, inspired and bonded together others, advanced our company’s goodwill with those we deal with in business, and will likely result in higher profits and more business. Why? When everyone works together to solve problems, problems are minimized, resulting in less cost to those who ultimately have to pay for the fix. And who wouldn’t rather work with someone more interested in the common good of solving each other’s problems than someone who points fingers and stands back to allow others to fail when they have difficulties? Not many people I know. And our customers generally have these same beliefs. They wouldn’t be very good business people if they didn’t recognize such common sense principles and their value.
In it together: Good for you, good for me, good for others. Give it a try! I guarantee you’ll like it!
Pat Simpkins,
PE, LEED AP, PMP
Project Manager, APPRO Development
