沒有任何一人會比我們所有人聰明──NOT ONE OF US IS AS SMART AS ALL OF US
在我擔任雜誌編輯的那些年裡,我最喜歡的時刻是召集創意團隊,為下一版雜誌的標題和平面設計做企畫。作為一名對視覺呈現敏銳的作家,我會帶著自己的想法與創意參加那些會議,但當我每次離開會議時,都會對我們協同創作的結果感到驚奇。當那期雜誌最終出版時,我可以確信,整全的整體大於各部分的總和。
我的一位同事曾經說:「沒有任何一人會比我們所有人聰明。」因為我們都有各自的優勢和專業領域。一個人也許能夠完成部份好事;但是把不同的人放在一起,匯集各自的能力,不錯的作品就能變成真正的傑作。
想像一個交響樂團:你有一群弦樂器、木管樂器、銅管樂器和打擊樂器的組合。在每一組別裡,你都有專門的樂器。例如,在打擊樂部分,你可能有小鼓、大鼓、定音鼓、鈸、鈴鐺和鑼。每種樂器都被設計用來發出獨特的聲音,當與所有其他樂器一起演奏時,就能產生令人讚嘆的音樂。
在體育界也是如此,不同體型和技能的運動員,在團體中都肩負著不同的責任,共同追求集體的勝利。如果團隊中的一個或多個成員未能完成他們的任務,整體是不可能獲勝的。
我們每天也都能在商業和專業領域看到這一點,當對的人被安排在對的地方做對的事時,公司就會表現出色。若是無法將個人獨特的能力整合在一起,以獲得績效的最大化,那就可能會導致事業的失敗,甚至破產。我喜歡聖經中關於人們和諧地一起共事、朝著共同目標努力的教導:
一起工作可以帶來更多的力量。據觀察,一匹馱馬可以拉動一定的重量,但兩匹馬一起工作通常可以拉動數倍的重量。「兩個人總比一個人好,因為二人勞碌同得美好的果效。若是跌倒,這人可以扶起他的同伴;若是孤身跌倒,沒有別人扶起他來,這人就有禍了。 再者,二人同睡就都暖和,一人獨睡怎能暖和呢?有人攻勝孤身一人,若有二人便能敵擋他;三股合成的繩子不容易折斷。」(傳道書 4章9-12節)
一起工作可以磨練我們的技能。我們都可以保持進步,因為當我們一起工作時,我們可以互相幫助,識出自己的盲點、弱點,用彼此的優勢互補。「鐵磨鐵,磨出刃來;朋友相感(原文是磨朋友的臉)也是如此。」(箴言 27章17節)
一起工作可以提供所需的支持。即使是最有意志力的人,挑戰和逆境也會使他感到氣餒,甚至心灰意冷。但當我們一起工作時,我們可以相互提供鼓勵和支持。「 總要趁著還有今日,天天彼此相勸,免得你們中間有人被罪迷惑,心裏就剛硬了。」(希伯來書 3章13節)。「你們不可停止聚會,好像那些停止慣了的人,倒要彼此勸勉,既知道(原文是看見)那日子臨近,就更當如此。」(希伯來書 10章25節)
© 2022. Robert J. Tamasy 撰寫了《場大使:CBMC的持續性傳統-傳福音及門徒訓練》;《企業巔峰:給今日職場從箴言而來永恆的智慧》;與Ken Johnson合著《用牧羊人的心追求生活》;與 David A. Stoddard 合著《導師之心》。他的雙週部落格是:www.bobtamasy.blogspot.com
備註:如果你手上有聖經,想要閱讀更多相關的內容,請參考以下的經文:
民數記 11章10-17節
11:10 摩西聽見百姓各在各家的帳棚門口哭號。耶和華的怒氣便大發作,摩西就不喜悅。
11:11 摩西對耶和華說:「你為何苦待僕人?我為何不在你眼前蒙恩,竟把這管理百姓的重任加在我身上呢?
11:12 這百姓豈是我懷的胎,豈是我生下來的呢?你竟對我說:『把他們抱在懷裏,如養育之父抱吃奶的孩子,直抱到你起誓應許給他們祖宗的地去。』
11:13 我從哪裏得肉給這百姓吃呢?他們都向我哭號說:『你給我們肉吃吧!』
11:14 管理這百姓的責任太重了,我獨自擔當不起。
11:15 你這樣待我,我若在你眼前蒙恩,求你立時將我殺了,不叫我見自己的苦情。」
11:16 耶和華對摩西說:「你從以色列的長老中招聚七十個人,就是你所知道作百姓的長老和官長的,到我這裏來,領他們到會幕前,使他們和你一同站立。
11:17 我要在那裏降臨,與你說話,也要把降於你身上的靈分賜他們,他們就和你同當這管百姓的重任,免得你獨自擔當。
傳道書 4章8節
4:8 有人孤單無二,無子無兄,竟勞碌不息,眼目也不以錢財為足。他說:「我勞勞碌碌,刻苦自己,不享福樂,到底是為誰呢?」這也是虛空,是極重的勞苦。
馬可福音 6章7節
6:7 耶穌叫了十二個門徒來,差遣他們兩個兩個地出去,也賜給他們權柄,制伏污鬼;
路加福音 9章1-6節、10章1-2節
9:1 耶穌叫齊了十二個門徒,給他們能力、權柄,制伏一切的鬼,醫治各樣的病,
9:2 又差遣他們去宣傳 神國的道,醫治病人,
9:3 對他們說:「行路的時候,不要帶柺杖和口袋,不要帶食物和銀子,也不要帶兩件褂子。
9:4 無論進哪一家,就住在那裏,也從那裏起行。
9:5 凡不接待你們的,你們離開那城的時候,要把腳上的塵土跺下去,見證他們的不是。」
9:6 門徒就出去,走遍各鄉宣傳福音,到處治病。
10:1 這事以後,主又設立七十個人,差遣他們兩個兩個地在他前面,往自己所要到的各城各地方去
10:2 就對他們說:「要收的莊稼多,做工的人少。所以,你們當求莊稼的主打發工人出去收他的莊稼。
反省與討論問題
- 你曾經和一個團隊一起做一個項目,並經歷了超過你的想像,那團隊成果遠遠超出,每個人都做出各自結果的加總嗎 ?如果是這樣,那是什麼樣的經驗?你感覺如何?
- 你如何理解「沒有任何一人會比我們所有人聰明。」這句話?根據你在工作場所遇到的情況,你認為這一個原則是否受到高度重視呢?請解釋你的答案。
- 即使一個人在他或她所做的事情上,有著極強的天賦和高超的技能,但堅持獨立工作會有哪些缺點呢?
- 你身邊有沒有可以稱得上是對你「鐵磨鐵」的人?如果有,請描述是甚麼樣的情況。如果我們沒有可以相互砥礪的工作關係,你認為會導致什麼問題?
NOT ONE OF US IS AS SMART AS ALL OF US
By Robert J. Tamasy
During my years as a magazine editor, some of my favorite times involved getting our creative team together to plan the titles and graphic design for the next edition. Being a writer with a good sense for visual presentation, I would go into those sessions with my own ideas but would leave each meeting amazed at the results of our creative synergy. And when the issue was finally in print, there was no doubt that the whole was greater than the sum of the parts.
A colleague of mine used to state it this way: “Not one of us is as smart as all of us.” Because we all have our strengths and areas of expertise. Individually we may be able to accomplish some good things; but put different people together who eagerly pool their respective abilities and you can move from good work to a pure masterpiece.
Consider a symphony orchestra: You have a collection of strings, woodwinds, brass, and percussion. And within each of those groups you have specialized instruments. For instance, in the percussion section you might have snare drums, bass drums, tympani drums, cymbals, bells and gongs. Each is designed to produce distinctive sounds that, when played in literal concert with all the other instruments, can result in a wondrous piece of music.
The same is true in the world of sports, athletes of different sizes and skills, all with distinct responsibilities in a collective pursuit of victory – an outcome that would be impossible if one or more of the team’s members failed to carry out their assignments.
We can see this every day in the business and professional world, companies excelling when the right people are put in the right places to carry out the right responsibilities. Failure to utilize unique capabilities by aligning them together for maximum performance can lead to business failures, even bankruptcy. I like what the Bible teaches about people working together in harmony and toward common goals:
Working together brings added strength. It has been observed that one workhorse can pull a certain weight, but two working together often can pull multiple times that weight. “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work. If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the main who falls and has no one to help him up!… Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken” (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12).
Working together hones our skills. We all can stand improvement, and as we work together, we can help one another to recognize blind-spots, identify weaknesses, and complement each other’s strengths. “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another” (Proverbs 27:17).
Working together provides needed support. Challenges and adversity can discourage, even dishearten even the most determined individuals. As we work together, we can provide mutual encouragement and support. “But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today…” (Hebrews 3:13). “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another – and all the more as you see the Day approaching” (Hebrews 10:25)
© 2022. Robert J. Tamasy has written Marketplace Ambassadors: CBMC’s Continuing Legacy of Evangelism and Discipleship; Business at Its Best: Timeless Wisdom from Proverbs for Today’s Workplace; Pursuing Life with a Shepherd’s Heart, coauthored with Ken Johnson; and The Heart of Mentoring, coauthored with David A. Stoddard. Bob’s biweekly blog is: www.bobtamasy.blogspot.com.
Reflection/Discussion Questions
- Have you ever worked on a project with a group and experienced an outcome that far exceeded anything you would have imagined you all could have achieved together? If so, what was that like? How did it feel?
- How do you understand the statement, “Not one of us is as smart as all of us”? Drawing from what you have encountered in a workplace setting, do you think this principle receives strong emphasis? Why or why not?
- What are some of the drawbacks of insisting on working independently, even if a person is extremely gifted and highly skilled at what he or she does?
- Do you have anyone that serves in a capacity that might be described as “iron sharpening iron” for you? If so, describe what that is like. What do you think are problems that can result if we do not have a working relationship in which we can sharpen one another?
NOTE: If you have a Bible and would like to read more, consider the following passages:
Numbers 11:10-17; Ecclesiastes 4:8; Mark 6:7; Luke 9:1-6, 10:1-2
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