Three hundred and sixty-five days ago, I published “Unplugged on my Birthday.” Like much of my writing that is a year old, it’s almost painful to go back and read it. There are two reasons for that. First, I believe the writing on this blog has improved over the last year. More importantly, however, a professional editor/writer is working with me to make this a better blog.
Teams make things happen
Big ideas often happen in the mind of one individual; such as the idea to start a new business or launch a new product. The effective implementation of those ideas require teams to succeed. Over the last year, I’ve been building a new team. Effective team building is quite possibly the hardest work I’ve ever done and also the most rewarding.
Picking team members is like getting to pick your family. Team members are people you will spend a fair amount of time with and/or come to depend upon heavily. You’ve got to overcome yourself to build effective teams. I, for example, have a forceful personality and a tendency to be a control freak. In addition to managing those two character traits, I strive to pick team members who understand and challenge that part of my personality.
Letting go to grow
I’ve been moderately successful over the last couple of decades; however you choose to measure that. Have I stumbled and fallen, and then picked myself back up a few times? Sure. That’s part of the game of life. I’m ready at 47 to play the game at an entire new level. That means managing and being involved in all the day-to-day operations of the teams has to stop. Effective team building is the only way to make that happen.
It’s hard to move on to your next big idea if you are holding the reins of the last several big ideas too tightly. The idea of building an effective team is to hand the reins over and move on. I’ve read about it in a dozen books. I’ve even accomplished it to some extent in the past. Over the next 12 months, however, I’m taking it to another new level. I’ve seen what happens here on this blog when I let go and put my trust in Shelby to make this blog a better blog. In two words: It works.
Putting trust in others
Over the last 12 months, I’ve come to trust myself and my own judgment more than at any time in my life. I believe that self-trust allows me to trust others; perhaps more than I ever have. In the end, I trust myself to find and partner with team members perfectly suited to work together. Then, I trust them enough so that I can let go of the reins of my current projects and move on to what’s next.
So, so true. This post has some threads in it that I was planning to write about on team building. Trust is the most important aspect to it, I think.
So, so true. This post has some threads in it that I was planning to write about on team building. Trust is the most important aspect to it, I think.
Dan, The cool thing for me is that it was the writing of the post that brought the trust issue to life for me. Glad you’re seeing it that way too!
You know you have had a successful year when you can look back and say, “I’ve learned a lot and I’m doing better work.” There’s nothing to be embarrassed about, especially your earlier work. It was the work you had to do to get to what you know and can do today.
Good for you and happy birthday!
True Randy, the past is the foundation of today. Good reminder – thanks!