Fear based decisions are always weak and sad and sometimes necessary for safety’s sake. Insecurity is always a slow poison that robs the team of the confidence necessary to have healthy relationships that lead to effective teamwork. However, fear of failure or a fear of not realizing potential is a healthy fear that should not be confused
Great teams know that the extraordinary is possible. They either have the vision to see what they have yet to experience or they have actually seen what can happen when a team discovers belief. This may be the most important attribute that leads to success. When people believe, they are more likely to endure what is necessary
Every team has a series of decisions to make about what type of team they want to be. Will they make a distinction between being ordinary and extraordinary? Ordinary teams justify all of their compromises based upon a fight for normalcy. If normal is what everyone else is doing, then the extraordinary cannot be found in the
Every team is working toward a goal and that goal requires someone on the team to lead the way through example. This is best when it’s the leader, but we don’t have to be the leader to be the example that inspires the change and growth necessary to achieve the goals. Sometimes people need to see the
Teams must have hope if they are to move on to a possible future. They must see a path toward a new day. This is true even if that path is narrow and unlikely. The possibility that is found in the future should be enough to spark hope and confidence can come from that spark. Finding a
Teams have to make a choice when faced with the reality of moving forward. They have to choose what to cherish. To cherish something according to Merriam-Webster is to “entertain or cultivate with care and affection.” Does the team cherish their mission or their tradition? This is a very distinct choice that cannot be mistaken as a
Permission is like a key to a locked door. How many times have we allowed a perceived lack of permission to hold us back from taking the action we know would benefit the team? This is like waiting around a locked door only to watch someone else try the handle and open it. When we use permission
Perspective matters and leaders must maintain the proper perspective. Experience can help a leader know that what their team is attempting is possible even if no one else thinks so. The leader must see past the current circumstances so that they can push the team through both good times and bad. Someone has to act like they
When I am building a team, I must have enough self-confidence to ask someone to commit to something big. If I approach someone with an apologetic attitude, I am communicating that I am not sure that my endeavor is worth our conversation. While this demeanor may seem polite, it is absolutely ineffective in inspiration. I have to
I always find it interesting to see how different teammates respond to challenges. I have found that many of the naysayers in the initial discussions are not saying no because they don’t agree with the direction. They cast doubt because they secretly doubt themselves and their ability to step up to the challenge. Usually what ends up