Teamwork stands alone in the list of Essential Qualities for the Globally Conscious Leader®: it is primarily a skill, something that can be learned and practiced exteriorly, with less focus on the deeper interior. That said, experience has shown that there is a range of inborn aptitude that does make a difference.
Teamwork is a very close cousin to Project Management. If you are an aspiring leader, go get training on Project Management! It’s one of the most fundamental leadership skills, and the investment in PM training will repay you for the rest of your career.
Good teamwork builds on a system, a process, that’s designed to coordinate collaborative work. You’re fielding a team whose job is to move the ball down the field, and they need to TRUST each other: I know the other guys will come through for me. They’ll meet their commitments, they have the skills, and they’re clear on what they’ve signed up for. No small order!
You need a simple, visible system to clearly spell out:
- The goal, including the time when it will be met;
- All the tasks to be accomplished to meet that goal;
- Who (exactly one person) owns each task;
- The owner’s commitment to get it done by xx time;
- The tools and resources needed;
- Who’s depending on who else to get it done;
- The risks, and what we might do about them;
- Finally, how are we doing as we execute…on track, behind, or what? Keeping score.
As the team plans and executes, you the leader will pay attention to two things:
- How is each individual doing, what each one needs to grow and succeed;
- How are the interactions among the players?
That kind of attention invokes your compassion, your insight, and your ability to take initiative when it’s called for (or, knowing when to step back and let the team do its thing). This is coaching at its best.
Poor teamwork is frustrating for everyone. BUT: excellent teamwork, skilled collaboration, achieving results together…these are among life’s greatest joys! It is SO worth your time and effort to become a skilled teamwork leader!
