Iron Sharpens Iron

At a meeting earlier this week, a friend and colleague encouraged all of us present to participate more fully and more frequently to make ourselves better at our crafts. He didn’t cite the bible, but he quoted from Proverbs 27:17 “Iron sharpens iron”, he said, implying the rest of the passage, which reads “… and a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.”
He really made me think. This is powerful wisdom for the leader within us. We must stay sharp, on top of our game, strong and tenacious. And we cannot do this alone. We need the company of like-minded people to keep us on the path toward our goals.

As we spend time with each other, we share our hopes, our dreams and our fears. Together, we find ways to make our dreams come true, to overcome our fears and to fulfill our hopes. Together, we improve our skills and develop new ones. We learn from each other, lift each other up and become better people because of each other.

When I researched this passage, I learned that there are many organizations that use “Iron Sharpens Iron” as an axiom for their organization – joining together in a bond to strengthen their skills, practices and beliefs. Many of these organizations are secular law enforcement associations. Some are musical associations. All use the adage to remind themselves of why they exist together – to make each other, and themselves, better.
Some make the point that simply rubbing iron against itself will not sharpen either piece. Instead, the two pieces must meet at the right angle and then move carefully in order to sharpen and not to chip, dent or break the other. They use this metaphor to warn against argument and judgment, to seek understanding and common ground as a first step toward “sharpening” each other.

There is much to learn and consider from this “iron” wisdom. The first step, though, is to get out there and mingle with others who can sharpen and us and who, in the process, we can help sharpen.

Questions to ponder: With whom are we spending time in ways that sharpen us and we sharpen them? Where else could we be spending time to be with people who sharpen our skills, our values, our beliefs and our common goals?