Success Cannot be Attained Alone
One truth Napoleon Hill discovered during all of his research and findings of the most successful people in the world is that no one person can attain success by themselves. No one mind is complete by itself. All truly great minds have been reinforced at one time or another through contacts with other great minds. He also discovered that the most effective and impactful teams practice generosity, being fair, courteous, and of a giving spirit with one other.
There is something special that happens when people work well together. A synergy that multiplies effort, that enhances contributions, and that brings out the best in each of us. And the best in each of us enriches all of us.
We can see that in Marvel’s, The Avengers, featuring Iron Man, Captain America, the Hulk, and Thor is not just inspiring for comics fans. The Avengers’ lesson is that One is better than one! Meaning that one team is better than one person. When you work on a team, your team members have your back and you have theirs. The abandonment of ego is what allows you to become part of a whole that is greater than the sum of its parts.
Napoleon Hill says, “Harmonious coordination of effort is more important to a good team than individual skill.”
In all my years of coaching and leading team building endeavors, I have come up with seven basic components that make up a winning team:
They set team goals and know what direction they are going
Howard Shultz, CEO of Starbucks, says it best, “When you’re surrounded by people who share a collective passion around a common purpose or goal, anything is possible.”
- A team should have common goals that are clear and completely understood by members.
- There should be a structured plan, partnered with action steps on how to achieve them.
- They are “we” focused instead of “I” focused and have fun on the journey.
Everyone knows what they are supposed to be doing by clarifying responsibilities
- Responsibilities should be properly divided and well understood to avoid confusion.
- Team members should know each other’s unique role and be aware of their contributions.
- Avoid overlapping of authority by dividing the job into distinct parts and accountability.
Everyone is involved in the decision-making processes of the team
- Encourage group discussions or brainstorming sessions to come up with better decisions and make the team feel they’re part of achieving success.
- Team members have a strong sense of belonging to the group when they experience a deep commitment to the group’s decisions and actions.
Everyone recognizes, accepts, adjusts and embraces diversity
- Team members are not punished for disagreeing; members work towards the mutual resolution of problems and disagreements.
- Team members are viewed as unique people with irreplaceable experiences, points of view, knowledge, opinions to contribute, and strengths.
Setup multiple channels of communication so that collaboration can be freely experienced
- Make sure everyone is always informed and nobody’s left out.
- People feel free to express their thoughts, opinions, and potential solutions to problems.
- People feel as if they are heard and listened to by team members who are attempting to understand.
The team is founded upon trust and loyalty
- Spending time with team members in openness and honesty.
- Create team building activities and events that allow members to build trust with each other.
- Keep your word and show integrity so you can preserve trust.
Empower team members by giving opportunities to grow, learn and be independent
- Provide challenges and show a clear path to advancement.
- Appreciate efforts and reward improvements.
- Team members have the support and commitment of the group to carry out decisions.
In conclusion, teamwork maximizes our strengths and eliminates our weaknesses. Teamwork makes the job easier because we don’t have do everything ourselves. Teamwork allows each member to build on other people’s ideas and points of view. You are not limited by your own perceptions of reality and your own way of thinking. Your team members will see things you didn’t and ways to approach a problem you might not have considered, which enables the team to do so much more in less time. There is something special that happens when people work well together. As a life coach, I work as a part of a team constantly. I understand the ins and outs of an effective team and how to develop the skills to become one. Learn more about how a life coach can help you today: RichCavaness.com
