Sitting in Church on Sunday morning listening to the Pastor’s Sermon, a thought occurred to me. Our workplace wasn’t much different from the points he was trying to make in the Sermon. The Pastor’s topic was on “Submission.” He offered that all too often the word submission is viewed in a negative context. He presented a simple definition of the word as: “under the mission/control of another.” He related one story of when discussing marital plans with new couples, he often asks then to define submission. Again, he emphasized that the replies by these couples were mostly negative of the word and its meaning. Dictionary.com defines submission as: “the act or instance of submitting;” in turn submit defined is: “to give over or yield to the power or authority of another.” Pastor suggested a different take on the word---He offered that when you submit to someone/thing you care greatly for (love), you are more open to creating the best possible experience. You have the opportunity to learn and experience things on a deeper level…because “you’ve checked your pride at the door.” If you practice submission in a positive sense it IS something positive. Most of us experience and practice submission (the act of submitting) in a positive sense at least occasionally in our marriage. There are times we recognize that for the good of the marriage, it is best to submit/yield to the desires of the other---the negative view would be to “give in.” Yet, this give and take is a positive….it is a growth experience for both.

So my revelation? I took notes during the Sermon for the first time in quite a while. Some of the notes I’ll share in short snippets:
1) “In a work environment we (employees) are submitting to the direction of the company…we are following their lead, their direction.” This isn’t negative either---if fact is can be quite positive. In a work place setting, following the direction of others is common and typical.
2) “Team effort is required in any relationship.” It’s the common goal thing all over again. We all share a common interest here….whether it the love of wildlife, rivers, or another aspect of natural resources….or even the attraction of things IT related. That is our common bond.
3) “On any Team, the art of submission is practiced.” “On any highly successful team, the art of submission is refined…” Meaning that the most successful teams are some the best at knowing when to acquiesce to others at the appropriate times. Everyone has a role to play and they have the mature ability to recognize the fact and how it will help move the Team forward….no matter what the Teams mission is.
4) and the final note I’ll share: “Once the bigger Mission is recognized the value to MDC and to the resource will benefit much more…It’s not about IT, it’s about Conservation.” IT is but one member of this bigger Conservation team…

I guess my way of thinking about what Pastor was saying (aside from my Faith) and how those words tied to a work place is that submission is NOT a bad thing. In fact just the opposite, it is required of all SUCCESSFUL TEAMS. No Team is successful due only to one team member…NONE. Information Technology Staff as a whole is but one Team member on the Conservation Team. We are an important team member without a doubt but we still must play within the boundaries established by Leadership. My thought is that by submitting (again a positive thing) to the bigger picture, we actually accomplish something much better than we could ever accomplish alone. We must focus on the goals of Conservation and provide technology solutions that are good for it...not just technology solutions that are good for IT. While our individual pride would sometimes lead us to take a different course….it is the greater good that we need to look out for and strive for. We must evaluate our interests, our motives and put them to the test of comparing to how does this technology move Conservation forward...or lets be sure to look at new technologies with that thought in mind.

Individualism is and will continue to be rewarded…it has a role to play; but more importantly so does the Team concept….the efforts put forth to grow the team…to further the cause---the mission. This is where the real value of our efforts comes into play. Working as a team, giving when that’s the best course of action and standing firm when that is required too. It’s about maturity and I would offer that the ultimate sign of maturity and devotion is that of submission….

TAFN