A threefold cord…

Today, a team of three gathered in a corner office on a cloudy, damp, kinda dreary day in central Ohio. As we sat around the same round table we’ve gathered around 47 other practices, we smiled at each other and acknowledged the rare air we share. You see, we were celebrating four years of transitioning power practice. Rare.

I began by thanking these men for their trust and for their commitment to transitioning well. Looking at the head of the system, I asked him what’s been the hardest part of the process. “That’s one of the easiest questions,Chet, you’ve asked. The hardest part is preparing to leave that seat,” he responded without hesitation as he pointed to his corner office mohaganey desk and chair. “That seat has lots of power and that’s hard to plan on leaving,” he continued thoughtfully. And, that was only the beginning of our time today. We would go into some rarer air as the president in preparation grabbed the reins and took us where he wanted to go. We went where only the few tread lightly if it all. We didn’t talk high finance, M&A, Legal, HR, or take on topics around strategic direction. We’ve talked all about that over the years and it’s all been good. Today, however, the pres in prep took it where only could decide to take it – he took it home, friend. We got personal.

“God bless these men,” was all my little voice kept saying as the room got eerily quiet as the practice took a turn toward deepening trust. We practice, remember, to build ever deepening trust. Few teams trust enough to tell easy truths to each other. Few. Very, very few teams trust enough to tell tough truths to each other. Very few. Next to none, tell each other personal struggles as they happen. Today, I had the rarest privilege to be present and a part of one such team. These men are becoming one and it’s a beautiful, rare, raw, hard fought, hard earned, tough, tender, rough, and ragged climb. Today broke my heart and built it up in nearly the same moment. Today a team of three reminded me of Ecclesiastes 5:9-12…

“Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, for he has no one to help him up. Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; but how can one be warm alone? Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And, a threefold cord is not quickly broken.”

Today, a team of three built down a bit deeper. We wrapped some more strands together. Our threefold cord gained some mass and next to nobody knows. Nobody needs to know except the few willing to speak, listen, and come alongside. Good…