Group of people pulling a ropeIt seems wrong grammatically when you say it…but the meaning is clear.

“We” is stronger than “me”. 

My friend Tom McMinn used that phrase in a recent blog on leadership. The longer version of it helps clarify.

All of us are smarter than one of us.

The idea here is for the leader to recognize that there is strength and wisdom to be gained when others on your team are brought into the decision process. McMinn calls this robust dialogue. He says:

Robust dialogue occurs in a group when everyone is encouraged, allowed, and even required to give their honest input on issues. The value of robust dialogue is: Every idea or plan will be improved upon when submitted to the wisdom and input of others. If your idea is a seven (on a scale from 1 to 10 with 1 indicating a bad idea and 10 an outstanding one) and you submit it to robust dialogue, it will become an eight or higher.

The Bible underscores this, too.

[blockquote author=”Ecclesiastes 4:12 NLT ” link=”” target=”_blank”]A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.[/blockquote]

[blockquote author=”Proverbs 20:18a NLT” link=”” target=”_blank”]Plans succeed through good counsel;[/blockquote]

In other words, there is strength in numbers.

So how does this look in our decision making process? Tom McMinn offers these suggestions.

  • A leader says to his team, “I’ve got an idea I want to share with you. Please give me your honest thoughts about it.”
  • A leader says to his team, “I need to make an important decision by the end of the week. Before I do, I want to get your input.”
  • A team member has the freedom to say, “I think we’re going in the wrong direction on this project.”

There may be occasions where you must make a decision without the input from others. That should be rare. God has given you a team of folks who can help you as you lead. They will appreciate you for asking them for their wisdom. And your ministry will be stronger and more effective in its mission.