I recall
listening raptly to a speech by a prominent senior female executive early in my
career. One statement she made stuck with me over the years. “If you are going
to spend time away from your kids, make sure it is doing something you love
with people you care about.” I also heard a related comment later, “We spend
much time selecting who we will date or marry. But we rarely dedicate time to
choose who we work with, even though we often spend more time with them.”
I admit I
generally was more focused on my role versus the team I was joining until the
last decade. I was asked recently to describe the best team I had ever been on
and what made it great. Each meeting participant was asked to do the same. As
we went around the table, I heard common themes emerge. For me, my best team
was one where I hired every member of the team. A number of years back, I was asked to
take on a role which required crafting a strategy and building a team from
scratch for a key effort.
What was it
that makes that team special? I wanted to understand as an intellectual exercise.
But I also want to know for the very practical reason that I wanted to recreate the magic of a synergistic group as I move to other roles. I
was amazed at how much could be accomplished with joy in the process and the
people. I came away with a list of traits I now seek when I choose those to
spend time with when I am not with my beloved family:
Top Five
Individual Qualities
First, they are
irrational optimistic. They believe it can be done. In the face of obstacles,
they persevere because they know the solution is out there.
Second, they
are secure individuals who enjoy collaboration. They understand much more can
be done together when credit is not an issue. They work to bring out the best
in and learn from each other.
Third, they are
a good balance of the analytical left brain and creative right brain. They can
dig into the details and measure success. But they can also create a compelling
vision that inspires, and sell it.
Fourth, they
are hungry and impatient. They never think we are moving fast enough. They are
owners, willing to do whatever it takes, with no ego involved.
Fifth, they
embrace that what they are doing matters and want to make a positive impact.
They look at their role as a type of calling rather than a job.
Top Five Team
Qualifications:
First, the
group is bonded and cheer each individual as well as team success. They share
trust and support each other's priorities outside the office, especially ones
related to family.
Second, the
group allows everyone to work in the way that suits them; no judgment. They do
it with consideration for what is ultimately best for each member and the
whole.
Third, thegroup celebrates diversity and has a lot of it in all forms: male and female,
ages, backgrounds, cultures, experience, views, abilities and strengths.
Fourth, a sense
of joint ownership runs through the group. They embrace the ideal they only win
as a team and any failure is shared. They have a single minded focus on achieving a common vision.
Fifth, the
group knows how to have fun, and to enjoy the process and each other. They take
pressure off as well as share the load and laughs frequently.
Thank you to this amazing team for teaching me some powerful lessons and for joining me on this
journey. I hope some of us find ourselves on another team together down the
road. Thank you to the teams since that have shared many of these qualities.
And I hope those reading, and my kids when it is their turn, get a chance
to participate in this type of synergy in action.
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