Building a Dream Team
In an interview conducted by The Christian Standard, college president Bryce Jessup said that the key to his stellar run as a leader boiled down to one line: “Dream a dream and build a team.”
With that in mind, author Ray Johnston suggests that each of us needs five types of key relationships to help us reach our full potential as leaders. Different relationships help us in different ways.
Interestingly, not all of these relationships need to be in person. Some can come through books. As Charlie “Tremendous” Jones suggests, “You are the same today as you’ll be in five years except for two things: the books you read and the people you meet.”
So, here’s what Ray Johnston suggests in order to build what I’ve come to call “your personal dream team.”
Vision Casters
I need some people in my life who will increase my vision and help me dream bigger dreams. A few of my favorite authors toward that end are Andy Stanley and Mark Batterson. I will return to their writings periodically because they stretch me into dreaming “What if?” and praying “Why not?”
There are also some individuals in my world that never fail to inspire me to reach for more. Steve J. and Dave D. stretch me whenever I share my dreams with them.
I need Vision Casters on my Dream Team - people who will increase my vision and help me dream bigger dreams.
Soul Sharpeners
Here is a Soul Sharpener’s job description: “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another” (Proverbs 27:17). A soul sharpener helps you develop spiritually, enabling you to reach new levels of maturity.
I think of individuals like Chris N., who helped open my eyes to the need to focus on disciple-making rather than church-growing. Or of Paul M., who challenged me to open up to the power of the Holy Spirit in a way that was “naturally supernatural.”
These individuals were among those who called me to not be content with where I was as a disciple, but to dare to become more – even if it meant challenging old paradigms.
I need Soul Sharpeners on my Dream Team – people who help me develop spiritually, enabling me to reach new levels of maturity.
Models and Mentors
Oliver Goldsmith wrote, “People seldom improve when they have no model but themselves to copy after.”
The Apostle Paul recognized that his ministry was more than planting churches and writing letters. It included intentional modeling and mentoring. “Whatever you have learned or received or hear from me or seen in me – put it into practice” (Philippians 4:9)
Even at my advanced age and after decades of ministry, I’ve come to see that I still have much to learn. Many of my mentors are older than me, but some are younger and wiser in various areas.
So, I’ve determined to always have mentors in my life who can teach this old dog new tricks. Men such as Marcus W. and Ian C. have taught me, and are teaching me, much.
I need Models and Mentors on my Dream Team – people I can learn from; people whose lives I can imitate.
Heart Healers
Dr. Paul Tournier wrote, “It is impossible to overemphasize the immense need people have to be really listened to, to be taken seriously, to be understood…No one can develop freely in this world and find a full life without feeling understood by at least one person.”
There will be times when we will suffer from heartbreaking circumstances or discouraging situations or occasions of betrayal. I’ve come to call such moments, “bruises on the soul.”
At moments like that, I need someone who will listen to me intently, love me graciously, and speak to me wisely. Fortunately, I’ve had some teammates in my life such as Tom R. and Steve H. do that for me. At just the right time they showed up to bring their heart to my heart.
I need Heart Healers on my Dream Team – people who will listen to me intently, love me graciously, and speak to me wisely.
Tail Kickers
If the task of the Heart Healer is to comfort the afflicted, then the task of the Tail Kicker is to afflict the comfortable. Tail Kickers love us enough to tell us the truth. They recognize that more than an arm around our shoulder, we need a kick in the seat of the pants.
Scripture describes a Tail Kicker this way: “Faithful are the wounds of a friend…” (Proverbs 27:6).
Not all Tail Kickers help us identify our blind spots. Some know how to ask questions that we need to have posed.
Ray Johnston notes how he went through a season when he faced several challenges at the same time. He called a member of his dream team expecting sympathy.
Instead, in the words of Johnston, “He restored my perspective with one statement.” He said, “Ray, I want to ask you one question: How would a great leader handle this?” According to Johnston, “It was just what I needed.”
Tail Kickers do that for you. I’m fortunate to have had individuals in my life such as Keith C. and Jon S. fulfill this role.
I need Tail Kickers on my Dream Team – people who love me enough to tell me the truth.
Some members of my “Dream Team” have been with me for many years. Others had a brief season and moved away. Still others enriched me for a time and then passed away.
All were special. And because of them, I am a better man – one whose Kingdom and personal dreams became more of a reality.
I encourage you to find your own “Dream Team.” You won’t regret it.
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