There’s a crucial secret that they never teach us in school.
I’ll tell you right away – business is a team sport.
But, schools have been telling us from a young age that individuality is the way to go.
What happens if we try to cooperate and do something together in school?
The teachers say, “That’s cheating!”
So, we can’t lean on others and we mustn’t help anyone or else we’re cheaters too.
But, then you step into the world of business, and voila! It’s not cheating anymore. It all becomes cooperation and teams. But, rarely is anyone prepared for it.
What’s the consequence?
The employees have no idea how to act as a team. Except for those, who in rare cases, played team sports in their youth.
In fact, companies that pay their salespeople well always look for this. That’s because team sports are sometimes the only way to learn the essential aspects of business:
- Camaraderie
- Competition
- Discipline
- Team play
When playing in a sports team, these factors are critical for developing a winning mentality. That’s the spirit that takes you to the top of the game.
Likewise, if you have a team that doesn’t operate as a team, your business will suffer.
I’ve noticed this much, if the team is happy, the business will flourish. It doesn’t matter if I’m working with a huge brand like IBM or L’Oréal, or the guy with a yogurt shop down the street.
A good team will make it work. The energy goes up and the tide rises for all the boats.
To have a good team, however, you have to define a list of values. And, all your team members need to go by the law of these values.
For example, my team follows our Code of Honor. It’s a set of rules (like our own Ten Commandments) which everyone needs to respect.
And, all great teams have their own set of values.
If you still don’t have a team, it’s time to start thinking about one. Along with the values that they’ll represent.
Be Awesome!
