There is a time, in all of our lives, when we are on a team that just gels. It could be your senior football team, college marketing competition team or maybe your first job out of school. When you look back at the time you were on that team, and you think about why you were able to accomplish big things there are a few common denominators across successful teams. If you break it down, more times than not, it is because you had clear leadership; everyone knew the goal and there were clear expectations for each member of the team.

Now, think about a team you are currently on. The team could be a volunteer board or your daily work team. Are you working at your full capacity? I don’t mean stretching yourself so thin that you get sick. But is the team, as a whole and each individual, performing to the best of their ability to ensure the team succeeds? Unfortunately, it seems more times than not, one of the elements of the group is broken, something’s missing.

Don’t get me wrong, you may be working with high-achieving Enneagram 3s who are meeting or exceeding goals, but there is room for improvement. And working towards those improvements can mean less stress and a happier workplace for everyone.

My guest for episode 10 is a leader that helps guide his team to that productive place — I know because I was on one of his teams.

Tim Lindstedt has experienced a variety of environments working across the marketing agency spectrum, and he’s always been passionate about helping others succeed and achieving goals.

CONNECT

This episode evolved from a chat Tim and I had this past February at an industry conference. We were fortunate to be part of a high-functioning team that created top-notch work and exceeded client expectations. After that discussion, it got us both thinking about our experiences, and how the expectations of team members and leadership create a cohesive, high-output work environment. 4:30

An essential aspect of bringing your team together is celebrating yourselves as individuals and maintaining a life outside of work too. Tim shared, “What made our team so strong is that all of us were undeniably human as a team. We celebrated and recognized those human moments. We worked together.” This was key to our team’s success, and we celebrated everything from weddings to baby showers. We competed in the Halloween costume competition many times dressed in a team theme, one time even during a client meeting. I have photos to prove the fun. 5:28

Tune in to understand what Tim means when he says, “I truly believe one of our great leaders and mentors when they said, ‘Do something that you have never done. Do something that makes you uncomfortable’.” 11:40

CHANGE

Leave it to Tim to bring a quote from the Marvel character Spider Man into a conversation about teamwork. “With great power comes great responsibility.” –Spider Man 17:11

For this team Tim and I describe, I was what I’d say a junior/mid-level member. But I was one of the original members, so I was there from inception. The team we built together worked because every time someone was hired, we didn’t search for someone who was the mirror image of our leaders. We evaluated what skill set and personality was missing on the team and hired to fill the void. Many times, as leaders, we find someone who is like us ten years ago and think that’s a perfect idea. But do you need two of you? No. You need someone who will push you, think differently and bring new ideas to the team? 19:41

During times of change and uncertainty, like many of us are experiencing right now, there must be open communication between leadership and the entire team. Unknowns and lack of communication get filled with each person’s ideas and, many times, doubts. It’s ok if leadership does not have all the answers, but it’s not ok if there is no communication. That communication can be as simple as, “We don’t know exactly what the future looks like, but we want you to be part of it.” Ask your team, how they feel about what’s going on, and what questions and concerns they have. 21:29

CHALLENGE

The show closes out with two challenges for listeners to consider.

1. Evaluate your team. Do you have clear goals and expectations laid out? Does everyone on the team understand the overall plan and where they fit?

If you are not the leader, do you have this for yourself on your team? If not, can you ask your leadership to lay this out for you and others, to ensure you are meeting expectations?

1. Are you creating opportunities for your team to be in sync? Do you know each other outside of work? How can you build a sense of community? Is your team’s work environment and day structured to help build community?  

This episode is another jam-packed 40 minutes of discovery. If you are currently a part of a team — any team, and/or serve in a leadership role, I hope you’ll listen or watch this episode. Take it all in, there’s insight for every team to take away.

Visit http://connectchangechallenge.com/ for more episodes and discussion. Full transcripts also available.