As my kids were devouring Harry Potter books, I was devouring Frank Pacetta’s book, Stop Whining–and Start Winning. Frank is committed to making the workplace a great place to work, versus being “ho-hum.” Are you just going through the motions in a ho-hum world? Or, are you and your teammates making it a great place to work? Do you say, “What a great place to work?” Do you hear it said around you? Find out why not. It’s the first major step to eradicating ho-hum.
Frank suggests that great teams:
Are Sincerely Passionate about People. Genuinely care about your team mates — their health and well-being. Forge a bond with them by discovering who they really are and what makes them tick. Get past the superficial “howzitgoing?”
Keep Promises. Do what you say you are going to do. And if you find out you can’t, tell each other as soon as humanly possible. Making promises and keeping them is a demonstration of your sincerity. It builds trust. Breaking promises is a trust-buster.
Don’t Lie. Even little white lies. No half truths, sugar-coated bad news, or even worse, don’t say anything at all.
Stick to the Basics. Don’t complicate things. Identify your fundamental business purpose — what you do that pays the rent — and then do it faster, better, and more productively.
Cut Down Barriers. Trivial matters create an amazing amount of friction and drag. Remove those obstacles that get in the way of doing your basic business.
Live the Vision. Don’t just read it. Act on it. The analogy of test driving a new car fits perfectly. Most of us are on our best behavior until we’re out of sight of the dealer’s lot and then we gun it. Let’s see what this baby can do!
Keep Score. How do you know if you’re winning or losing if you don’t keep score? When you accomplish a goal, make sure everyone knows it. And when you lose one, don’t keep it a secret.
Recognize Others. People love to be loved, honored, and respected. Don’t be stingy. By asking for teamwork and then neglecting to recognize those who comply, we signal that teamwork really isn’t all that important.
Have Fun. There comes a time when the hardest working people need to kick back, laugh, and have a good time. Celebrate success, turn on the tunes, crank up the volume. Play a little.
Have Pride. There’s no passion or high performance without pride. What makes you proud to work here and be part of the team? What did you do today to merit that pride?
Talk Teams. If you talk about teams all the time, there’s a better chance that you might do it!
Communicate Incessantly. Tell people both the good and the bad. Tell them exactly what’s going on, why it’s happening, and what they (and you) need to succeed. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Ask questions and demand answers. And don’t hide behind technology — it’s perfect for avoiding conflict (which only postpones the conflict and makes it worse).
Pull Your Fair Share. All members of a team must be fairly tasked, given the assignment and business situation. Resentment and deep frustration are guaranteed if one team member clocks up a disproportionate share of the team’s business while the others are allowed to coast.
Don’t settle for ho-hum. Rev up that engine and make it a great team and place to work!
The Secrets to Successful Teamwork: Trust and Accountability
Article by Rhonda R. Savage, Reliable Plant Magazine, 9/2009
Question: Is your workplace a great place to work or is it ho hum?
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