Every circumstance has its own set of challenges. Trading places with a more privileged person or team may result in a whole new set of unseen challenges. When we compare another person’s situation with our own, we tend to only see the benefits of being “over there”. We begin to tell ourselves that the reason they can
The best teammates are content with their resources and role but not content with the status quo. They don’t feel entitled to equal treatment or resources because they know where their area sits on the priority list at any given time. However, they are not content with the current state of their area. They work hard with
Have you ever noticed that entitlement is the most insipid attitude a teammate can have? Those that have everything and feel entitled to more are difficult to be around because they can’t see the value of what they have. Those that have seemingly nothing, complain that they don’t have what others have, and feel entitled to a
I firmly believe that while all people are created equal, their choices tend to separate them. Choices are the steps that we take in one direction or the other. Sometimes life is forgiving and sometimes it isn’t. Sometimes people are born into privileged circumstances and do nothing with that advantage because they make poor choices in response
Great team leaders see a vision through to the end. Ordinary leaders get bored with a vision during the long stretch in the middle of the implementation. This can create an environment of uncertainty that makes any direction “tentative” based on the fickle buy in of an impatient leader. Tentative is never as productive and secure. As
Great teams do their best to avoid being reactionary in nature. Every team has to react to the unexpected from time to time but some teams tend to create their own angst when progress isn’t moving fast enough. Sometimes an initiative needs time to bake. When a team or leader gets impatient and scraps a project because
Every teammate makes two types of contributions: 1) toward the team goal and 2) toward the team dynamic. My work and expertise help the team accomplish it’s goals. My personality and ability to collaborate help the team work together toward the team goals. We tend to evaluate our ability to move the team toward the goals but
It is good for me to ponder if my teammates are glad that I am on the team. Do people only appreciate my personal contribution to the team effort or do they like being on the team with me? Am I easy to get along with? Do I make people uncomfortable? Am I thoughtful or self-centered? My
What do I do when I don’t feel respected? Do I demand respect? Do I withhold respect in return for the disrespect I feel? There is a lot of talk about how respect is earned. If someone hasn’t earned my respect, do I still have a responsibility to earn their respect? Does disrespectful behavior eliminate my responsibility
Disappointment is inevitable but it is also a great way to spot the quality of a teammate. Mature teammates take disappointment in stride. They don’t blame, they don’t hide, they don’t quit and they don’t throw tantrums. Any two year old can throw a fit and take their toys and move away from the situation they are