Enerzine

Whenever I run leadership workshops or team building events, I have participants pulling me aside and asking me if teamwork really makes the dream work. They would then proceed to tell me of their past experiences with creating, managing and leading a team, often either with little success or total dismay. I would usually thank them for sharing the stories with me, and reaffirm with them that teamwork really does make the dream work. If it is a small dream, like owning your own car at the end of the year, then you may not need teamwork. However, when you are talking about owning a garage of performance super cars, then you may need to start looking for the team.

We all know that one can only go so far. There is always a limit to how much we can do, as like everyone else, we have only 24 hours. The question is not how much of the 24 hours can I put to put good use, but rather, can I influence someone else to loan me their 24 hours? As a leader, you will be endowed with the ability to cast visions. You will also understand that not everyone wants to be a leader, though. Some may prefer to be lead, to be followers of the vision. It is then your job to influence them to help you reach your mutual goals.

As we have set “teamwork” to be the theme of our Enerzine this month, I am also reminded of my own team. Whenever I am out to set up a team or to expand my current one, there are a few things I would take into consideration.

1. The Values of the Person
   Whether we like it or not, each of us are governed by our personal values. And these values are diverse! It can be anything from responsibility to wealth. I would go on to say that the success of any relationship, be it working or social, depends on the compatibility of the person’s values. To illustrate how important knowing a person’s values are, I have even designed a product called Value-Elicitation Cards, which is generally a stack of cards with the common values of a person, and you can know and even rank your values just by involving yourself in the process.
2. The Skills of the Person
   To bring value to the team, the new team member must always bring something to the table. Be it a skill or talent that currently you do not have. You can also bring in someone with the similar skills as yours, that way you can delegate and free up your time for other more productive activities. On this note, always remember to bring someone to complement you, not to compete with you.
3. The Potential of the Person
   Sometimes you may not have any openings in the company, but along came an individual you are sure have in them great potential, and you can see in the near future, he or she can bring great value to the company. You will also know that if this person is not approached now, he may end up in another organization. In cases like this, the decision need go through the entire current team, and plans need to be in place so what the resources can be maximized.
4. The Purpose of the Person
   Like you, everyone would have their dreams. It would make sense to discover those dreams early in the relationship to avoid anything ending badly. Although life is in nature impermanent, and nothing last forever, it would be great is the same team that started at the starting line crosses that finish line together. The true essence of the team are hardly it’s achievements, but rather the chemistry among the team. People must come together not because they have to (or worst, force to). They must come because they love to.

There are of course other things to look into, but these I believe are the fundamentals. It would not make sense to go further if these 4 are not fulfilled. Realizing the dream is more like getting the right people on the bus, as Jim Collins would say. I could not agree more.

If you were to have the chance to observe geese take flight from the Canadian shoreline, they lift off from the water in squawking chaos. Yet, in just a matter of seconds, you will be able to notice that a line begins to emerge from the mass of brown feathers. This line straightens, arches slightly, and then, as on cue, bends sharply to form a perfect V shape.

Canada geese fly in a V formation for a very practical reason: a flock of geese flying in formation can move faster and   maintain flight longer than any one goose flying alone. Synergy is a law of nature, and synergy is one of the main ingredients in leadership and  teamwork.

As leaders, we have a lot to learn from these geese.

•    By flying in a “V” formation, the whole flock adds at least 71% greater flying range than if each bird flew on its own.
In other words, birds of the feather flock together (in this case, geese of the feather). If you and your team share the same goal and are heading in the same direction, momentum exist. Momentum makes big obstacles seem smaller, and far distance seems nearer. It also makes the leader look better than he is. That’s why momentum is always known as the leader’s best friend. Leaders should strive to build positive momentum within the team he leads.

•    When the lead goose gets tired, he rotates back in the wing and another goose flies point and takes the lead.
When working as a team, we need to be reminded that the goal is more important than the role. It doesn’t matter how smart and talented we are individually, one brilliant individual does not make the team.

A group of average performers with a clear sense of  direction will out-perform the one-man band anytime. Share responsibilities with your team, leverage of each other’s strength and complement each other’s weaknesses.

Leadership is also membership.  When a member in the team is poised in better position to take the lead, the leader should rotate back in the wing, lending support and    allowing leadership to happen within membership in the team.  Encourage all members to take leadership for in moments when the lead goose gets tired, another goose flies point position.

•    Whenever a goose falls out of formation, it suddenly feels the drag and resistance of trying to go it alone and quickly gets back into formation to take advantage of the lifting power of the bird immediately in front.
Granted, everyone has their own goals and personal focus.  Individuals must align their personal goals with that of the team.  Leaders must seek out, understand and align  individuals to the team goals.  When individuals are not aligned, the entire team may lose. Leaders, go beyond the superficial relationship and really get to know your people inside-out.  Understand them, their personality, strengths and weaknesses as well as what lights their fire and fuel their motivation.  Build solid relationship, trust and be trustworthy, connect professionally and personally.

•    These geese honk from behind to encourage those up front to keep up their speed.
Encouragement is the oxygen for the soul. When you notice a team member is down and not performing as he or she should, leverage on the trust you have build and ignite the motivation within them. People do not care how much you know until they know how much you care. Guide them, and whenever they go a bit     off-track, “honk” at them to provide feedback so you can coach and your team members can learn. “Honk” also to reinforce on the right things being done, “Honk” to encourage the right behavior and action.  Let your team know you’re there to support them, let them know you care for them.

•    Finally, when a goose gets sick, or is wounded by    gunshot, and falls out, two geese fall out of formation and follow him down to help and protect him. They stay with him until he is either able to fly or until he is dead, and then they launch out on their own or with another formation until they catch up with their group.
Members in team are often assigned and engaged in different roles.  All roles must be within contact distance so everyone knows what everyone is doing and are updated with the latest happenings.  Leaders must be the bridge of communication among members, be observant and knows who is falling out of formation for whatever reason and then assign help and support to protect members in need.  What is the use of teamwork when individuals fan only for themselves?

When you perform a good deed to a person who is in great need, you are sowing seeds of greatness indeed! Not only will it strengthen the bond you share, you will have the contentment not many people experience when they go to bed at night – you have added value to someone. Always reach out for someone but not with reward in mind. The act of giving already begins the    process of receiving – When you give, you shall receive.

Blink by Malcolm Glodwell

Blink is about the first two seconds of looking – the decisive glance that knows in an instant. Gladwell, the best-selling author of The Tipping Point, campaigns for snap judgments and mind reading with a gift for translating research into splendid storytelling.

Building his case with scenes from a marriage, heart attack triage, speed dating, choking on the golf course, selling cars, and military maneuvers, he persuades readers to think small and focus on the meaning of “thin slices” of behavior. The key is to rely on our “adaptive unconscious”–a 24/7 mental valet–that provides us with instant and sophisticated information to warn of danger, read a stranger, or react to a new idea.

Gladwell includes caveats about leaping to conclusions: marketers can manipulate our first impressions, high arousal moments make us “mind blind,” focusing on the wrong cue leaves us vulnerable to “the Warren Harding Effect” (i.e., voting for a handsome but hapless president). In a provocative chapter that exposes the “dark side of blink,” he illuminates the failure of rapid cognition in the tragic stakeout and murder of Amadou Diallo in the Bronx. He underlines studies about autism, facial reading and cardio uptick to urge training that enhances high-stakes decision-making. In this brilliant, cage-rattling book, one can only wish for a thicker slice of Gladwell’s ideas about what Blink Camp might look like.  *Editorial Review by Barbara Mackoff

“A Graphical Extraganza telling one of the

Greatest Tales of Courage, Teamwork and Leadership”

Like Sin City before it, 300 brings Frank Miller and Lynn Varley’s graphic novel vividly to life. Gerard Butler radiates pure power and charisma as Leonidas, the Grecian king who leads 300 of his fellow Spartans into a battle against the    overwhelming force of Persian invaders. Their only hope is to neutralize the numerical advantage by confronting the Persians, led by King Xerxes, at the narrow strait of  Thermopylae.

More engaging than Troy, the tepid and somewhat similar epic of ancient Greece, 300 is also comparable to Sin City in that the actors were shot on green screen, then added to digitally created backgrounds. The effort pays off in a strikingly stylized look and huge, sweeping battle scenes. The plot is the same, and many of the book’s images are  represented just about perfectly. But some extra material has been added, including new villains and a political subplot involving new characters and a significantly expanded role for the Queen of Sparta (Lena Headey). Some viewers will be turned off by the waves of spurting blood, flying body parts, and surging testosterone. Still, as a representation of Miller’s work and as an ancient-themed action flick with a modern edge, 300 delivers.

This movie depicts one of the greatest demonstration of  leadership and teamwork where the actions and courage of a few to stand in the face of great adversary and inspire the greatness of many others.
*Editorial Review by David Horiuchi

I have always pride our team of trainers to make every single training session an engaging and empowering one.  Hence, we prepare and research for resources that will equip our participants.  Through the many sessions that we run, we received feedback that video clips tell stories best.

In line with our “Teamwork” theme in this issue, you will preview the “Lead India Campaign” video.  This clip is a great example of teamwork, leadership, proactiveness,
liberating belief and the power of individuals
coming together.

Leaders, take heed, set the example and boost that
teamwork for optimum results.