It’s time to make the critical shift from leading the business by yourself to leading an organization of people. At P2Excellence, we help you navigate the uncharted territories of organizational growth with clarity and confidence.
If you have worked a day in your life, then you have certainly heard about the importance of teamwork. You’ve probably taken a class, discussed it during your performance review, and talked about it in a staff meeting and over lunch. The conversation is usually about the importance of teamwork and the lack of team spirit. We seldom say, “It’s my team. I’m responsible for our collective results. Am I showing up every day as a great team player?”
If it is “my” team, then the first question is, “What is the name of the team?” Seriously. Let’s get specific here. Whose team are you on?
And then, “What kind of team are you playing ‘for’?” Some teams are designed like a football team. The coach tells the quarterback, the quarterback tells the team, the team lines up, and players concentrate on playing their position. The play is played as close to design as possible, and then the team moves to the next play. Quite different from being on a soccer team. Or being part of a swim team. I’m only asking this question because it’s been my experience that our team experience in a sport colors our perspective of a work team. If you played for a golf team, chances are when we talk about teaming, you are picturing a lot more individuality than what a football player might be picturing.
And then, “How does your team play the game?” I hail from FSU, and I once had a teammate tell me, “Your problem is you always want to throw the long ball. We’re a team that plays for 5 ugly yards at a time!” Believe me, that was important information to know!
Once we answer these questions, we move to the players, and it’s time to think about our role. We need to focus on our“ performance, and ask ourselves individually, “Am I the right fit for this specific team? What skills and abilities do I possess that help the team win? Where am I holding back and not playing my best game? If we were holding a team draft today, would I be chosen? Am I spending so much energy focused on what I think others need to do, that I am not paying attention to both my personal ‘statistics’ and how my contribution creates a team win”?
Competitive players understand what a team requires. They understand what scores. They know the rules. They match their abilities with others on the team to drive the right plays. And they play their best – every time and every day.
As you go through the week, ask yourself, “What does your teamwork model look like and how well do you play for the team?”
