Messy Teamwork

The day of giving someone a project and expecting them to single-handedly get it done, in my opinion, is over.  Big dreams demand bigger plans.  And, the beauty of those big visions is that it takes lots of people to join the discussion, feel the burden and own responsibility in order to embody the larger plan.

However, a couple of challenges come to mind:  the more people involved, the less credit individually can be taken for bringing the dream into reality.  The "hero" idea is diluted; the head of the department might not get recognized.  Similarly, giving someone an opportunity for ownership might pose a threat.  If they think they have the better idea, I might not be taken as seriously.   Or, what if others hear of the part they have played and potentially assume their involvement is more valuable...   Crazy thinking, but the challenge remains.  The call of leadership, nonetheless, is to encourage the team to "go for it" while personally pressing through the mental and even emotional struggles of pride.  Yes, teamwork can be messy and difficult.  But isn't it true that those we surround ourselves with will determine the level of our success..?  So, don't sacrifice the spirit of cooperation, buy-in, cohesiveness, chemistry and excellence on the altar of your personal ego.

What personal struggles do you need to address and work through in order for the team to really work?