The Team

For the better part of my life I have belonged to a team. At an early age I joined sports teams, played on them in school, and carried this out through my working life. I've captained them, played supporting roles on them, and coached them. I've enjoyed successes, experienced some setbacks, and learnt a great deal along the way.

It was with some trepidation that I faced a recent surgery- a relatively minor correction to a long-standing knee injury. No doubt the injury owed something to the many years of playing team sports. Soccer, basketball, football, and other contact sports can take their toll on the body.

Upon arrival at the hospital it was clear that the entire operation (pun intended) would be a team effort. From admission to release there must have been no fewer than 12 people who played a direct role in the proceedings of the day. Each had her or his own unique task, and each performed that task well. Even the volunteer staff of the hospital that provided simple things like the offer of a drink or a minute's conversation, did so as part of a larger team. It was appreciated.

The team approach was evident in the moments leading up to the surgery itself with the lead nurse even calling a timeout just prior to the start of the procedure. A check to confirm- with my assent- the area to be operated upon, the procedure agreed upon, and the degree of readiness all ascertained. It was impressive.

Indeed, in so many aspects of modern life a team approach is taken, and I believe, the result is beneficial to all concerned. Teamwork fosters collaboration, and collaboration fosters teamwork. Improvements and suggestions can come from many points of entry. These are all good developments, and should be embraced in an age that is more democratic and meritocratic. 

Can a team approach be applied with success in a field as traditional and resistant to change as education? I believe that it already has in the best schools and in the environments where learning is rich. A process by which a group of committed people dedicated to achieving a common purpose is very much like the teams I have enjoyed the most success with. Leaving aside trite comments, and hollow mottoes, there is no doubt in my mind that a committed team can achieve much.

Sharpening The Saw

Of course, I cannot claim to have invented the term, "Sharpen the Saw", it is the purview of the late Steven Covey of 7 Habits fame (https://www.stephencovey.com/7habits/7habits-habit7.php). However, an impending surgery got me thinking about this phrase. Is there any wonder? Surgery brings everything into sharp focus.

Sure, it is a routine surgery, if you can call anything routine that forces the body and mind into a temporary state of anaesthesia. The prospect of such things forces one to put everything into perspective, and to prioritise what is really important. That is the essence of sharpening the saw. Family, faith, and relationships come to mind for me.

Without doubt the most important aspect of my life is the family that I have been born into and helped create. One part of the equation is reaching an advanced stage of life, while the other has the balance of years ahead- hopefully. We can never be guaranteed what the future will bring, so taking full advantage of the time afforded to us is imperative. This is especially true of the ones we love the most, and spend most of our time with.

Faith is a highly personalised and uniquely individualised word. It means different things to different people, and there are certainly many to choose from in an increasingly diverse world. The important thing is to have faith. Faith that the universe will unfold as it ought to, and that people will do their best with what they have been given is part of the ethos I subscribe to. I trust and have faith that the medical community, especially the doctors and nurses I will be working with, will do best what they have been trained to do.

Relationships also come into clear focus at such moments. I am acutely aware that we have time for only a certain number of interactions or interpersonal relationships during our lives. This isn't meant to be morbid, it is just a fact of life. So, what is to be gained by having any of these interactions be anything less than optimal? Taking the time to ensure that I am positive, respectful, and fully engaged in all of the relationships I find myself in is important. Appreciating that others have a great deal to offer, and that I must add to, rather than detract from, the quality of relationships is fundamental.

It really shouldn't take moments like this to bring these priorities to the fore, but sometimes it does. It also shows that we can never take anything for granted in this life, and that every day should be lived to its maximum. Sharpening the saw. indeed.

Oh, and if I don't make it back safely from the hospital, please let this missive stand as a testament to all.

 P.S. I did make back o.k., and the message still stands.