For Great Life Success, What Team Are You On?

May 25, 2023,

With sacrifice, passion and dedication, you can accomplishment a lot as an individual.

Use those same dynamics in a group setting and you can accomplish tremendously more.

How many major companies are functioning with one individual?

Understanding that working with a group, small or large, has certain elements, if adhered to, which make your task far easier and function smoother.

On a grander scale.

It is much better than doing things alone. One is the loneliest number.

Hey? That sounds like a song.

The legendary group, Three Dog Night, formed in 1967, enlightened:

“One is the loneliest number that you’ll ever do
Two can be as bad as one
It’s the loneliest number since the number one

No is the saddest experience you’ll ever know
Yes, it’s the saddest experience you’ll ever know
‘Cause one is the loneliest number that you’ll ever do
One is the loneliest number, whoa-oh, worse than two”

We say “ditto” to that thinking.

What are the important elements to a group working well together?

As we often like to do, we will share our experience first, but what we have also found in scribing these articles for you, is that, when we refer you to experts, they do it differently from us and often far more effectively.

First our experience. Here goes.

There must be a clear leader.

You can try leadership by committee but we have found that doesn’t work well.

Eventually a stronger personality will take over anyway and it tends to lead to politics and infighting as strong personalities start to emerge.

There will be a consensus who the best leader is and we will follow a structure where that person makes the final decisions and carries the most responsibility.

There should be a clear description of the division of labor.

That is very important and as the expression goes, stay in your lane. Everyone should be happy with that division of labor and what their job assignments are.

Have a well-researched grievance structure.

Human nature is to fall into conflict. To ensure that conflict does not destroy the team, as a group, you should develop a grievance structure.

Make the experience fun.

True, it is work, but try and make the experience enjoyable. Dine together, from time to time, go to an agency like Gig Salad and bring in a comedian or a dancer during a business meeting. Have sections where you praise one another.

Always do more than is expected of you.

We all have our assignments and whatever you do, give more than the minimum requirement. Make your team feel that you are an extremely valuable member.

Okay, those are our basics. Time to turn to the experts and, by the way, we did not look at any material before writing our team building section. That is actually how we have done that.

Time for a different look.

Let’s walk over to the bookstore.

Teams That Work: The Seven Drivers of Team Effectiveness Illustrated Edition

By Scott Tannenbaum (Author), Eduardo Salas (Author)

“Why do some teams thrive, while others struggle?

In the modern workplace, employees collaborate. Managers are expected to be effective team leaders and employees are expected to be valued teammates. But many teams struggle. Being part of a struggling team can be unpleasant, but it can also hurt your career and waste company resources.

In Teams That Work, Scott Tannenbaum and Eduardo Salas present the seven drivers of team effectiveness and the clearest recommendations on what really makes teams great. Applying the lessons they’ve learned from working with high-stakes, high-risk team situations to any kind of organization, they will dispel some of the most enduring myths (e.g., can you be both a star and a great team player?), feature the most useful psychological research, and share real-world illustrations of effective teams in action. Readers will find actionable, evidence-based tips for being an effective team leader, a great team member, a supportive senior leader, or an impactful consultant.”

Ah, we left off collaboration. That is important. It is a great team environment where virtually everyone has a voice. Great idea. We will add that one to our list.

One more.

The Soul of a Team: A Modern-Day Fable for Winning Teamwork

By: Tony Dungy, With Nathan Whitaker 

“From the New York Times bestselling author of The Mentor Leader and Quiet Strength comes a book sure to transform your team or organization!

For most people, succeeding in life requires mastering the art of teamwork. Whether at work, school, church, or home, virtually everyone is part of a team—and when they work well, teams can accomplish more than individuals working by themselves.

But not all teams are created equal. When a team isn’t functioning well, individual strengths can be undermined and weaknesses accentuated, making the work environment a terrible place to be. So what does a truly effective team environment look like, and how can you create one within your own organization?

As a former Super Bowl–winning coach, Tony Dungy is an expert at building and bringing out the best in a team. Drawing on his experiences from years of coaching and working with other leaders, this football fable lays out four essential principles practiced by truly effective teams. Telling the story of a fictional NFL team looking for a turnaround, The Soul of a Team not only identifies some of the most common issues that hold a team back but also lays out a game plan for winning teamwork. Whether you aspire to be a better leader or a stronger team player, The Soul of a Team will show you how to contribute to a stronger, healthier, more productive team destined for success.”

We are all for that.

Starting with the basics, in a family, from the day we are born, we are part of a team. How that team functions often depends upon time tested elements.

As you look into your future, we can tell you from experience, being a productive member of a team will make your life far more enjoyable, satisfying and meaningful.

Because after all, one truly is the loneliest number.

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