Success, Teamwork and Leadership

"The strength of the team is each individual member. The strength of each member is the team." - Phil Jackson

There is nothing more powerful than great teamwork combined with great leadership. It's often the difference between success and failure or the difference from being good to being great.

Legendary coach, Lou Holtz said if you have: 

• Bad leadership + Bad teammates = Bad Team
• Bad leadership + Good teammates = Fair Team
• Good leadership + Bad teammates = Fair Team
• Good leadership + Good teammates = Great Team

One of my favorite acronyms of all time is T.E.A.M. = Together Each Achieves More. People need people. And when people come together as a team, there is no task that is too tall to conquer. The fact of the matter is that "None of us are as powerful, wise or as knowledgeable as we are together. And none of us can accomplish individually, what we can accomplish together as a team." This holds true in almost every situation. At work it never ceases to amaze me how when the team pulls together to get a task or project completed, it not only gets completed faster, but it quite often turns out better than originally planned. 

I used to coach youth basketball.  One of the things I would always remind my players is "Championship teams are exactly that…a TEAM of Champions.  You are all champions, you are all leaders. Each has their own role to fill, but more importantly you have to learn to put it all TOGETHER to be able to come out victorious. Even the great Michael Jordan needed his teammates to win the NBA championship. By working together, we can do more and go farther than any one of us can do or go alone" 

"When a team outgrows individual performance and learns team confidence, excellence becomes a reality." - Joe Paterno

Here are some signs you're being a great teammate:

• You are willing to play any role that helps the greater good of the team
• Success of the team means more to you than individual accomplishments
• You are the first to congratulate and recognize your teammates
• You are continuously learning from and teaching others
• You are quick to pick up a teammate who is having a bad day
• You learn and grow from your mistakes as well as those from others
• You are confident in your abilities but not arrogant

But a great team comes with great leadership.  There may be one primary leader on the team, but the best teams there isn't just one leader.  In fact there could be many.  

The man or woman who has the capacity to translate vision into reality - that person is a leader.  She depends on goodwill, not authority. He inspires enthusiasm, not fear, and fixes the problems, not the blame.  The person who believes in his followers, the person who stands out in front, the person who inspires others - that is the leader.

Knowledge and information is vital to the leader. You need a grasp of the facts, an understanding of the factors involved, and a vision for the future. Knowledge alone won't make someone a leader, but without it, he cannot become one. 

Here are some inspiring traits of exceptional leaders:

• They trust you to do the job you've been hired to do.
• They seek your advice and input.
• They are always willing to learn.
• They listen, a lot.
• They find opportunities to let you shine.
• They recognize your contributions.
• They point out your strengths.
• They have your back during tough times.
• They are master storytellers.
• They challenge you to do bigger and better things.
• They express appreciation.
• They are responsive.
• They know when to apologize.
• They give credit where credit is due.
• They treat others with dignity and respect.
• They care.
• They coach their team to be leaders.
• They take responsibility.
• They focus on the team.

Everyone can be a leader in some way, shape or form in any situation. If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more...you are a leader. Great leaders don't set out to be a leader…they set out to make a difference.  It's never about the role, always about the goal.

"Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is success." - Henry Ford

Individual commitment and leadership toward a group effort, that is what makes a team work. Teamwork is the ability to work together toward a common vision, the ability to direct individual accomplishment toward the team's objectives. It is the fuel that allows common people to attain uncommon results. When we coordinate our efforts with the efforts of others we move toward achieving our goals.  Teamwork divides the tasks and doubles the success of any project. Alone, a project may seem overwhelming. With teamwork, tasks become simple.  By working together, good work becomes great.

So, remember that when you are collaborating with others around you. You are more likely to get better results by involving others and working together. Bring your individual leadership to the team. Together EACH really does ACHIEVE MORE!

Make today great!

Curtis

"One of the most important truths I've learned over the years is this: Leadership is leadership, no matter where you go or what you do. Times change. Technology marches forward. Cultures vary from place to place. But the true principles of leadership are constant and stand the test of time." - John Maxwell