Wilson Lodge #432 F&AM

A great deal is being written and said these days about the necessity for leadership and cooperation among and within our greater Masonic family. In addition, there is a need to look at the idea of teamwork. One of the most prevalent movements of the period, adopted by practically all-successful corporations, is the establishment of high performance teams to accomplish projects, develop products, improve service, and increase productivity.

The Masonic Blue Lodges can improve their activities and their effectiveness by recognizing the characteristics of a high performance team.

What is it that makes a team productive? How do we set up a group of Masons and ensure that they will accomplish their purpose with maximum efficiency? Corporations have spent millions of dollars developing the answers to these questions. Emulating their success can be of great benefit to our Masonic Lodges and help keep us vital in this twenty first century.

Before we look at the makeup of a team, let us recognize that there are many kinds of teams and that they take many shapes and forms. When we use the word team, we tend to think in terms of sports. That is not all bad because the sports team is an excellent example of what we want to develop. As you review the characteristics that follow, you will readily see that what makes for success in the Super Bowl is not too different from what makes for success in the Lodge.

A team can be a Temple Board, a Degree Team, a set of Lodge Officers, or the entire membership of an organization. Teams can be of different sizes, of different makeup, and formed for different purposes. Whatever its construction, there is a set of common characteristics which identifies a truly successful high performance team.

Simply put, these key characteristics are:

1 Common purpose

2 Open communication

3 Mutual respect

4 Division of responsibility

5 Authority to work

6 Flexibility

7 Morale.

Common Purpose:
A team needs to be established with a clearly defined purpose in mind and that purpose must be a common one shared by every member of the Lodge. How many times have you tried to work in a group where some folks have different agendas? It does not work! The very first steps taken in forming a team is to agree on why you are there. This works for any Lodge as a whole, as well as for a committee or Board. Is your purpose Ritual? Is it community service? Is your main thrust to have family social activities? Are you on a Board responsible for the care and operation of a Masonic Center? It cannot be overemphasized that a common purpose is critical to the success of any group.

Open Communication:
The members of any team must be able to communicate with each other without misunderstanding,. Whether they are agreeing or disagreeing, whether they are evaluating alternative courses of action or making decisions, whether they are making reports or assuming assignments, clear communication is a must. Teams can only operate if the participants can put emotions, prejudices aside, and talk freely and openly to one another.

Mutual Respect:
This characteristic fits very closely with the previous one because there can never be good communication unless there is a mutual respect for each other. Each team member needs recognition for the contribution he can make to the task at hand, and his contribution must be appreciated. The leader cannot take all the credit, and neither can any other individual. The Brother who handles the lights during a Degree is just as important as the Master. If you don't believe it, try having the lights go off and on at the wrong times!

Division of Responsibility:
Each team member needs to have an opportunity; to contribute, and there must be no misunderstanding of the role each one is to play. The team leader cannot be a "one man band." Is the Master of your Lodge doing all the work? Does he open the Lodge Room, bring the refreshments, write and print the Summons, and do all the telephoning? We all know that is not the way to a successful Lodge. If we know the contribution a Brother can make, if we respect him for what he can do, then it is not too much to expect him to do it. This principle is labeled "accountability."

Authority to Work:
When a team is established, the leader or jurisdiction, which sets it up, must give it the authority to do its job. This concept is called empowerment. Any group delegated to accomplish that "common purpose," which we discussed above, must have the authority and power required. If not, whose fault is it if they fail? If the team is advisory only, then let that be clearly stated.

Flexibility:
In addition to empowerment, a team needs to have the flexibility to try things that were not necessarily thought of beforehand. This is true both internally and externally. Flexibility in their approach to accomplishing the purpose gives them the opportunity to evaluate all options and not be bound by preconceived notions.

Morale:
A highly productive team must have high morale. If the members of the Lodge do not feel good about what they are doing, if they do not believe what they are doing is important, and if they do not think they are really accomplishing something. Then morale is going to be poor. If morale is poor, the team will disintegrate, or worse, it will stay in place and infect the rest of the organization with dissension. However, if the team you establish or the teams you lead have all of the characteristics listed above, morale will be high and so will accomplishment.

In summary, in order for any one of our Masonic Lodges to survive, to grow and to be successful, it must organize as a high performance team, and comprised of and supported by high performing Brethren.

A team is a group of people with complementary skills who are committed to a common purpose, performance goal, and approach, for which they hold themselves mutually accountable. If your Team meets these standards, you will be developing a successful Masonic Lodge for the membership now and for future generations to cone.

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Curtis Bratcher, Secretary Home Phone 870-257-3710

US Mail: Wilson Lodge 432F&AM #4 Poteau Drive Cherokee Village, Ar. 72529-6324