Family: Building Up Our Most Important Team

Henry Ford is famous for saying “Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success.” Now we all know good ole Mr. Ford was referring to building cars, but the truth is why should our families be any different? Families at their core are teams. In fact they are the first and most irrevocably pivotal team we are a part of. Each individual family member brings personality, strengths, and weaknesses to the group. As a family we have shared history and common goals we are all striving towards. We need our team, our families, to help us learn, live, and grow through the good, the bad, and the ugly. This is not a journey that can easily be mastered alone or without individuals who care for you and have your back.

As tiny future adults we know that our children need to be able to work effectively in a team. Good teamwork is an essential skill required to be successful in the work force, in all types of relationships, and in the founding of their own family units. Knowing this, it is easy for us to see how important it is to teach and practice good family teamwork within your home. Family members who work together help balance each other’s strengths and weaknesses out and the improved cohesion brings everyone closer together and makes weathering life’s storms that much easier. Families are meant to watch out for each other, to help and take care of one another.

So how do we ensure your Warrior is an awesome teammate? There are three integral interpersonal skills necessary for effective teamwork. They include the ability to communicate, collaborate, and compromise with others. Here are some quick ways to help strengthen these three C’s of teamwork in your home:

   

Communication:

• Unresolved conflict is one of the number one things that strains families. Most people fear conflict, but productive conflict is a part of every healthy relationship. Setting aside time to resolve conflict gives us an opportunity to debate and discuss in a positive way while learning from each other. It also prevents the building of insurmountable emotional walls that happens when we avoid our problems and allows us to address things while they are still ‘small’ and as they arise.
• Good communication and conflict resolution are learned behaviors. They are not natural attributes gifted to us; it requires hard work and a lot of it. This has to be a priority in your home for it to become a habit. Setting aside time throughout the day or week to air out hurts or misunderstood actions, it will be a healing balm and bring everyone closer together. Who knew that conflict could be so win-win?

Collaborate:

• The easiest way to promote unity in the home by clearly defining individual’s roles within the home. Everyone has a job and a role to serve on a team. Even the littlest member can still be a huge help to the goals of the whole family. This can be taught by assigned household chores and by giving children opportunities to help out other family members. This can be as simple as helping carry the groceries in or having an older sibling mentor a younger and help them with their chores or by picking out an outfit. Praise group efforts frequently and celebrate the individual skill sets each child has that makes them excel in their assigned or assisted tasks.

Compromise:

• We all are guilty of being too focused within our own world to truly see other’s thoughts, feelings, and needs. For very young and naturally egocentric children it is even harder. Teach your Warrior the importance of compromise by respecting each other’s opinions and abilities no matter how great or small. This can be practiced by having an older child meet a younger’s needs by having them delay instant gratification to play with or help a sibling first, to cheer or praise the accomplishments of others in the family no matter how big or small, and to inquire about the best part of someone’s day before talking about their own. These are huge steps that will aid them in hearing other’s ideas and finding a happy medium that meets both individual’s needs mentally, emotionally, and physically.

     We hope that instilling these principles in your home, coupled with the month’s Warrior mat chats will help you see a huge difference in the atmosphere of your home. Teamwork isn’t something that happens overnight so don’t be discouraged. You may have some resistance at first, but as everyone learns their roles and puts in more effort everything will start to run a lot smoother. And don’t forget communication is the key! Whether it’s airing out hurt feelings or admitting we are struggling with completing assigned tasks, set aside time for your family to talk together. Sports teams meet, practice, and talk multiple times a week to be successful, so consider instilling a weekly family meeting to help everyone stay on track.

     As teamwork becomes more of a habit within your home we hope you start to reap the benefits of a stronger family unit. Working together makes everyone feel good whether you are the helper or the one being helped. And knowing that your family is open to different ideas and always safe to talk too will reap huge dividends in the tumultuous teenage years. Because the more we instill that team family is there to back you up in times of trouble the less stressful and potentially serious individual struggles are. You are the most important team in each other’s lives so go make each other stronger. Because after all… doesn’t your family deserve the best you can give them?

Happy Team Building Y’all! 

The Importance of Family Teamwork

#RaiseAWarrior

Looking for more ways to practice your teamwork? 

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Join us on the mat each month for Family Participation Days. 

(Upcoming family participation days are September 25th and 26th) 

#FamilyTimeIsTheBestTime