“Team”, I almost always cringe when I hear people talk about teams in the context of work! Why? I truly believe that most of us have never been part of a team (at work) and have little to no idea what it is like to be on a team that works?
I’m writing this article because creating a team out of individuals is the work I have the most passion for and, creating a team out of individuals is one of the most important things I believe an organization can do to achieve its goals! Yet, it doesn’t happen often and I think that’s sad. And it doesn’t have to be. If teams were the norm more people might enjoy work a whole lot more!
Real teamwork happens when the team’s objectives come first. And it’s rare when this happens. The main reason it’s rare, in my opinion, is because we have tremendous self-interest. We are concerned about our own path, our own well being. So, to step out of our comfort zone, and put the team first, is difficult and takes a leap of faith. Or, does it?
I think it “just” takes a leader (first time managers start here: Stop it!), one who creates the space for us to step out of our comfort zone, someone who can develop a real team. They start by building trust that allows us to forget about ourselves for a while because we know they have our back. It allows us to put the team objectives first, for a while.
We’ve all heard about “the time the coach benched the star player in the middle of a super important game!” What do you compare that situation to at work? When does the manager bench the star player? How do you define a star player at work?
And maybe that’s the thing. There is no star player at work. There is only the team in the highest performing organizations.
So, using “teamwork” and “team” where there is a selfless commitment to other people and a commitment to a single set of objectives is appropriate from what I have experienced and from what I see with my clients! What’s your role in building the team where you work? What are you willing to do to make it happen?