In November of 2005, I was a new mom, in our new home, in a place where I knew almost no one. Our daughter was just 10 months old and being a stay at home mom was a little bit of a shock to my busybody self. Lonely, kinda bored, and frankly desperate for some adult conversation, I had an idea. Aren’t the best ideas born in moments of desperation?!
I typed out a quick note in the neighborhood community chat room (this was before Facebook, okay) inviting other moms to meet me at the neighborhood clubhouse on the following Tuesday morning in between my daughter’s naptimes. But just sitting around the clubhouse with strangers sounded incredibly awkward, so I tagged on a task we could all do together. My invitation was this: Bring your kids, a snack to share, envelopes, and your address book! Let’s address our Christmas cards together! We were all addressing our Christmas cards anyway, I figured, we might as well do it with some friendly company?!
About 5 other moms showed up that morning with their toddlers in tow, their homemade muffins, and their blank Christmas cards. We introduced one another, got the kids situated with snacks and toys, and then we got to work! In the couple of hours that we were together, we got to know each other, chatted about our families, exchanged recipes, pediatrician recommendations, and more. One of the moms shared where she gets discount return address labels. Another mom had the most beautiful handwriting and offered to teach calligraphy. I learned from them where the best local playgrounds were. All this while knocking out a chore we would have otherwise been doing separately, in our homes, alone. It was really fun AND productive!
Working alongside one another was incredibly motivating and inspiring. What would have been just another mundane task on my to-do list became a morning of networking, idea-sharing, and comradery.
Even though we were all doing our separate thing, there was something about working side-by-side that really helped make the work efficient, effective, and even fun.
It turns out that’s a real thing! There are many benefits to working alongside one another. Even if you’re not necessarily collaborating or working on the same thing together, just working in a group setting is proven to be more effective than working alone all the time.
Here are 6 benefits of working together:
- Working with others inspires creativity! The enthusiasm of working beside other creatives is a breeding ground for fresh ideas.
- Working with others blends complementary strengths! It’s a great opportunity to share strengths and talents with others.
- Working together increases productivity! There’s accountability (and a touch of peer pressure?) to get work done when you’re surrounded by others getting work done.
- Working together keeps you motivated! Scheduling a time to work alongside others gives you something to look forward to. Being surrounded by others creates an excitement to accomplish the work.
- Working together relieves stress! Tackling an important, dreaded, or time-consuming task seems stressful until you’re doing it across the table from someone else also working on a big task.
- Working together creates a sense of support! Team-work and encouragement go hand in hand. Working together creates a sense of “we’re in this together.”
Imagine sitting at a big table with your laptop open, with 5 other women and their laptops around the table, too. Each of you working on your own thing- the book proposal, the content calendar, the graphics, the podcast – but side-by-side. The energy in that room is electric! And especially if we are working side by side on the things God has called us to, imagine the supernatural provision! Clarity! Wisdom! The creative juices are flowing, the ideas are shared generously, and the work is getting done efficiently. A round of high-fives to celebrate what each of you accomplished, and a date set to meet again for another work session. We are so much better when we work together!
As daughters of the Most High, we are called to unity and community, and we are stronger when we work together doing the will of God. So the next time you need some company, some inspiration, and some motivation, get with a group and work alongside one another!
*Not sure where to start? Need help finding a group of like-minded women to work alongside? We got you! Stay tuned for an exciting announcement from Declare! xo*
“Two are better off than one, because together they can work more effectively.” Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
“For the body is not one member, but many.” – 1 Corinthians 12:14
“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” -Hebrews 10:24-25
You belong here! Our heart is to equip you to be an effective Christian communicator.