Who’s Really On Your Team?

Your team could be much bigger, or smaller than you think

We are often organized into formal teams. We have scheduled meetings where we end up with action plans and desired outcomes. However, the real team working on getting things done may be larger or smaller than those formally assigned to do the work.

We all need to assess who is really on our team.

We can only go as far as the team can travel. Teams win in life. Individual success is, for the most part, a myth.

Lesson to Learn

Build real teams that go beyond your formal groups. Make sure your formal team is really on the team working toward outcomes that matter. It’s essential to do an assessment whenever you have to get results.

Who is on the real team, and are they contributing? When they are, you can achieve incredible results.

Your team can be so much larger than the formal group.

Do you have mentors, coaches, and volunteers who can help and will give it their all? Know your real team.

Answer for Me

I have learned to do an actual assessment of every team effort I create and that I am a part of.

Are the people who are assigned to the team on the real team? Who is missing that I need to have on the team? What skills and passion do we need to be successful?

When I am honest with my team assessment, I build better teams and execute to a higher standard.

When MACNY needed to go 100% virtual in a matter of a week last spring, I assembled a New Normal Team to help do this. We created a formal team and included many informal team members who could not be at the meetings. However, I considered them essential to our success.

When we were done, we served more members and had more virtual events than expected. I was blown away by how much we got done. I also knew that honest assessments helped our organization get it done.

Action

As you put together your team, be honest about who will be on the real team. Sometimes you need to have people on the team who will not do much work. If so, find informal team helpers that can still help you get the job done. Assess skills and passion.

Recruit those who are needed to get the job done.

Honestly evaluate progress and make needed changes. Outcomes don’t come easy, and individuals almost always are bested by teams who work well together.

Daily Habit

Review the teams and meetings you attend each day. Who is doing the real work? Who is passionate and engaged? With this group, can you be successful?

If not, seek the talent and passion you need to move ahead.

You know people who will offer advice or a helping hand. Ask them.

They want to be asked, and they will ask you to help in return. This is how you will be successful professionally and personally.

We stand on the shoulders of giants to reach the stars. Don’t go it alone — build and work with your formal and informal teams.

To learn more about leadership visit me at www.macny.org.

To get a copy of my book Present-Future Leader goes to www.amazon.com.