THE WINNING TEAM (2)

Hi, family! Finally, the long-anticipated 28th of May is here!💃 It’s that special day that is marked on God’s calendar and ever precious before His face and in His sight because He sent a STRONG AND MIGHTY FORCE into the world, no jokes! At this point, I know someone is already telling me to chill, like “What is this lady going on and on about”? Don’t mind me (do, actually), I’m this giddy with excitement because it’s my birthday!🥁🎂

This is a highly significant year in my life, and having moments of reflection about the journey so far has brought me to a strong point of gratitude, gratitude, and gratitude. It’s giving “Oh for a thousand tongues to sing my great Redeemer’s praise…!”🥺 No matter how much I try to make sense of the events on the path, all I see is God at the centre of everything! To the Father who is so intentional about me, I am indeed grateful!

I will also quickly seize the opportunity to appreciate everyone who has been a part of my journey, I am grateful for the gift of my immediate family and friends. To all readers of this blog who have now turned family, I sincerely appreciate you. Thank you for being here on a remarkable day like this!🙏

Before this post turns into my birthday epistle😁, I have called myself back to the reason you are reading this. I made a promise about giving you a part 2 to “THE WINNING TEAM”, and I am here to redeem my pledge with joy and dancing. First, have you read the first part? Oh, it would only have more meaning if you did! Kindly do me a favour, just take a pause on this for now and search “THE WINNING TEAM” right on this blog. It is much easier to access than you think!

The first part took us through the different categories of people in our lives, with special attention to the breed called FRIENDS and how our relationship dynamics bring them into our winning team. I also drew an inference from two Nigerian series that were mentioned in the post. If you want to catch up on this gist, you really need to check out the last post. Make that your first gift to me.

This was our stopping point last week and will be our foundation for this post; “Now, how do you ensure you have a Winning Team, and how do you get your circle of friends to be teammates in success? How do you become someone’s partner in progress, and how do you bring your humans into that progress circle? What does a growth mindset require of you?”

I’m about to highlight some not-so-strange points in the paragraphs below, and I’m sure you will put them into a more careful consideration henceforth. These points are in no particular order, they all just sum up to bring about a wholesome friendship. So, let’s get our questions answered, are you ready?

Dear One, let me start by telling you that you have to be the first Member of the Winning Team. By this, I mean you need to have a mindset that desires to see everyone succeed in their endeavours. Have a mental picture of you all celebrating your wins, even before the wins come knocking. Have the kind of growth mindset that you will desire everyone to have.

Be the first to stretch out your hands in kindness, and see the energy being reciprocated. Be the kind of friend that you want your friends to be to you. If you all have the mindset of being ‘the first member of the winning team’, you are on your way to having a friendship where selflessness and love reign. Your win has already begun just by having a positive mindset!

Having a winning team does not just come by luck, you have to put in the work. A major aspect of the work is commitment and intentionality. As I mentioned earlier, being friends with someone is more than just fun and vibes. Like a romantic relationship, friendship is you seeing to the greater good of another person and putting your heart into it. It is also a matter of the heart!

To have a winning team, you have to imagine the best, not the worst! Don’t always think the worst about people or their abilities. Be that friend that extends love and light, be a sound voice of reason. Even when they have not done or are not doing anything to make you proud of them, let them know that you are rooting for them and committed to helping them become and do better.

Friendship is not just about the proud moments, it is also a space where there can be feelings of lowliness or helplessness. Let them know that they can always count on you. Contribute to the reason they want to be better people and be a part of their success story.

Your team should not just be on speed dial when it’s time to gist, they should also be your go-to (and vice-versa) when it’s time for prayers. Be that person they can trust to speak over them in prayers. Whether or not they tell you to pray for them, make investments of prayers into your friends’ lives. That is the greatest and most powerful seed you can sow, and it will always yield results.

The ideas you have can be of great help to your teammates in success, so don’t be quiet about it. That thought that seems irrelevant to you might just be the answer to their long-time prayers. Rather than think they will mock or make fun of you, why not mention the idea in their ears and see them bless you from the bottom of their hearts? And then, on a lighter note, if you don’t share your ‘crazy’ thoughts with your friends, please, who will you share them with?🙄 Be open-minded and free in your friendship!

It should be noted that this is very different from a situation in which all your friend does is talk down on you, make you feel insignificant, or always see the impossibility of your big ideas without any sense of motivation. No one should have that hold over you! The healthy thing to do here is to get out of that circle, as it is going to do you more harm than good.

You cannot have a winning team if you don’t check on your teammates regularly. How would you know what is going on with them and how you can be of help when you barely even reach out to them? More so, when you feel a nudge concerning them or their faces flash across your mind, it is not something to postpone!

If you are not able to make the call or send the message immediately, please put a structure in place that helps you remember and do it as soon as you can. Just reaching out at that time might be a lifesaver or a burden-lifter. You might think what you have done is insignificant, but they will see it as a big deal. This also applies to prayers, a quick mutter under your breath right there and then can save the day.

Always remember to be a giving friend! Give them your time, your resources, and your presence. Sometimes, the biggest gift you can give to people is being available to listen! Many people are getting crushed under the weight of all sorts of burdens because there is nobody to talk to. Let your presence be felt, and let your resources speak to them too.

A perfect friendship does not signify the absence of disagreements, quarrels, and moments of hurt. Rather, a perfect friendship is where forgiveness and love thrive, and where unity prevails amidst diversity! Let me tell you this one for free; you are going to do a thing or two to offend these people, and they will do the same to you. You are certainly going to have different opinions on some things, however, that should not be your ‘breaking point’.

Your different opinions should give you a reason to reflect on your own and also communicate. Doing this will make you see that both parties have a good intention for the subject of discussion and that there is no ulterior motive. However, if you decide to play the “I am always right” card, you might just be laying the foundation for grudges, unsettled issues, and other unhealthy toxins that could creep in.

In a bid to make each other see or get ‘the point’, there could be chances for offence and very annoying or disappointing remarks, sometimes you could get vibes you did not see coming or expect from this person. In this case, let love lead, especially when this person realizes the hurt that has been done and is doing all they can to make things right.

I have to point something out here, let the person’s track record also speak to you and the situation. Have they demonstrated traits of toxicity in the past or not? Has this unkind outburst become a pattern, or was the statement or action a ‘spur-of-the-moment’ thing? You need to observe all that happened closely, both from their point of view and yours. Don’t be quick to conclude, do an inner check for your traits as well, and make a decision in love (which can sometimes be letting go or helping the person do better, especially if there is a willingness to).

Desire to build and be in a team of problem-solvers! There is no situation or problem that doesn’t have a way out or solution. Referring to the problem over and over, pointing accusing fingers at one another, or magnifying one another’s faults will not bring the desired outcome. Channel the time spent on what could result in a bigger problem for your team into discussing possible solutions, and you will be surprised to see what wise investment you have made.

We will not always be in the right, neither will our teammates. The key however to building a successful team is being honest with your words, but be kind while at it. Always remember that the goal is not to tear this person down, but to build them up and help them make better choices. Let your teammate know that he or she actually messed up in a certain situation, tell them the truth when they are wrong, and call a spade a spade, but do all in love and for a better outcome!

How can you desire a winning team and yet attend life-changing or mindset-shifting events alone? Hey, that is not the way to go! Recommend them for opportunities, and recommend opportunities for them. Go for programs and seminars together. Be committed to one another’s growth. The win is as good for the team, remember we are talking about a team of winners!

This is a bit similar to the previous point; give no room for mediocrity or stagnancy in your team! You are constantly on your way forward, and someone seems to be fine just standing on a spot, and you allow it just like that? No, you should not just be fine with it! Be a strong force that pushes them towards becoming a better version of themselves. Are they doing well already? Well, there is always room for improvement, don’t stop growing!

Always (not sometimes), it takes being a trusted confidant to have a winning team. Your friends should know that their secrets are safe with you. I mean, they pour out their hearts to you about an ugly past, a distressing situation, or even a big idea that they are about to execute, and you decide to showcase your broadcasting skills with their affairs?

No dear, you can do better than that! Honour them by keeping their private life private, and let them announce whatever they have going on to the world at their convenience. What you can do for them in the meantime is to show your support and commitment to the process they are going through. Be a strong support system!

Have you seen or heard of a situation where a big thing happens in the media space for instance, only for the public to know that what is new to them has been in existence a while ago? Say, a celebrity announces their engagement, wedding, or the arrival of a baby. These scenarios always earn the respect of their circle who have made it their responsibility to keep the information private as the celebrant demands. That is why you are their confidant, they see and trust you as a covering. Don’t break it!

As a partner in progress, know this and let your teammates know that it is never too late to start making great decisions. The moment you really begin to fail is when you give up or accept that time is no longer in your favour for you to start doing better. You can motivate one another to become better, don’t just accept fate or give up on them!

This is the last item on the list, but it is not in any way the least. Every member of your winning team has a quiet moment in their journey, periods they will not be willing to speak. It is not because they don’t value what you share, but the situation does not just give room for them to talk to you about it, be it positive or negative.

In this case, don’t be so fast to draw conclusions or ‘throw’ them away! Understand them and the situation they are in, extend your love to them, and let them know you will always be there when they are ready to address the issue. All they need is your understanding and support, please give them that.

With these many points of mine😁, I hope I have been able to convince and not confuse you about the essence of a Winning Team. It never goes out of fashion, we will always need these wonderful humans in our lives. Here is my prayer; may we be them, may we know them, and may we build them! Make a decision today to be a better friend to your friends, and see the tides turn in your favour.

Yayyy, thank you so much for being a part of my amazing reading party!🙏 You have given me a beautiful birthday present by being present till the end of the post, and I do not take it for granted🥺. I know that this is not going to be the end of your visits to this page, and I can’t wait to have you around more often.

I look forward to receiving your comments on the post, and your heartfelt wishes. Also, please remember to say a word of prayer for me today🙏. I will send you a new note in a couple of days. Till then, have a great time, and always remember that you are loved!❤️