2016 has been a year that turned the tables on all of the favourites. In sport we saw outside wins by the Western Bulldogs, the Cronulla Sharks, Leicester City and the Chicago Cubs. Ireland defeated the All Blacks. In hockey, the Argentina Men’s Olympic Hockey team and the Great Britain Women’s Hockey team triumphed. On a global scale, who could have predicted Brexit… and now President-elect Donald Trump!
Common to all of these examples are the inner beliefs among team members that led to each outstanding achievement – what separates the firsts from the also rans.
Throughout my time in professional sport and the world @work, I’m constantly amazed by long shots.
I’d like to share four traits I’ve observed in all successful teams, on or off the field, which resonate strongly with me:
- Vision – a shared belief in a common goal
- Leadership – taking ownership of individual and team responsibilities
- Desire – a strong will to succeed
- Selflessness – it’s not important who receives the accolades
I am working with a well-established group in the FMCG sector at the moment whose brands are well-known to Australian and international consumers. They are in the process of rebuilding their organisational culture with a clear vision, which exemplifies these traits. Focussing on their talent, they have assessed their current capabilities, as well as the leadership potential of candidates. They are investing heavily in people who can add strength to those four traits to accelerate performance.
It just goes to show that no matter what business you are in – anything is possible.
When the adrenaline pumps, a team motivated by a shared belief comes alive and propels its own success. Witnessing such achievement is inspiring to all involved. So when you’re looking for leaders to build you teams and organisation, keep a keen eye on those four traits. You could reveal a long shot.
What are the milestone events for your organisation in 2017? Do you have the people with the Vision, Leadership, Desire and Selflessness to achieve them?
