Build the Team

This week I gained a new client. She works for a company that requires all new employees to present themselves at a staff meeting, thereby allowing her new co-workers to get to know her. She is panicked about this and asked for help telling her story.

What a great way to build bonds and a team. It doesn't matter whether it is a large or small operation the work group is generally small and giving everyone an opportunity to get to know the new kid on the block is a great way to speed up the process of building team confidences. The stories do not need to be formal but authentic. Informal is best, it is the sharing and getting to know one another that helps build the team, it creates a shared experience much like Outward Bound does without the expense or danger of a ropes course.

It reminds me of a piece in Lou Holtz's book, "Wins, Losses, and Lessons" He recounts a problem he had with a very talented team. He took over and expected to do well because of the depth of talent. At the end of the season the team had the worst season record in the program's 108 history. Things went from bad to worse when at least two team members were arrested on drug charges. He asked how the team could trust him so little that no one felt comfortable telling him what was going on. After an extended silent period one of the players said "Coach it's not you I don't trust, its my teammates." Wow, there was the problem, a team with no internal trust; no wonder they could not play together.

After that incident every evening practice started with 4 or 5 players standing and telling a bit of their story so that the team could really get to know each other. That season the team went on to a bowl game. Stories can build trust and team cohesiveness whether on the field or in the corporate office. Think about how you can use stories in your work, business or office. It just might be the best thing you do for your bottom line this year.

Carol Mon
www.carolmon.com