As the Australian Football League grand final rolls around for another year, the importance of team-work and the many facets that comprise success come to mind. I was reminded of this when speaking with a friend who mentioned how difficult it is to
maintain a team who are all wanting to be goal kickers.
Every team needs members that provide different skills. A team needs those who kick the goals but it also needs those who defend and those who can work right across the whole field, to provide an environment in which goals can be kicked. That can
mean the support team, coaches, physios and even partners of the individuals themselves. Essentially, this is not a team of high performers but a high performing team. Having this type of diversity within a team means there is a much greater chance of
success.
The Paralympics is another example of where support and team work exists. At the recent event held in Tokyo, a dedicated team of 70 multi-skilled technicians were on hand to repair and service prosthetics and equipment without which athletes who have
trained their whole lives for the moment could not continue to compete. The part that these dedicated technicians play in enabling the success of the athletes is an example of it not just being the goal kickers, but a team effort leading to
success.
How does diversity and inclusion in terms of teams bring high performance? Ideally bringing together a team with different thinking styles, habits and perspectives united by common goals is a good start. What else can be done to bring that high
performance?
Here are some tips:
-Develop a compelling vision
-Promote and celebrate inclusive behaviours
-Create Psychological safety
Read more on Psychological Safety here
-Develop trust and social cohesion
-Celebrate wins
Which of these could you be doing more of to elevate you team?
I had the great pleasure this month to interview Chip Conley- Hospitality entrepreneur, New York times best seller and founder of The Modern Elder Academy. We spoke in depth about Cultivating Curiosity and Resilience. Here is the link to our wonderful conversation.
For more information on the Modern Elder Academy click here.