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Building an Unstoppable Team

By Clay S. Nelson, President - Consulting Services Network LLC

It is the eleventh hour and time is running out on a project/proposal deadline. The project, in the works for several weeks, has been plagued by setbacks. With a few days left to hammer away, your team is worn down. They have prematurely surrendered to the notion that making the deadline is impossible, and what energy they do have is going into figuring out how to skate past the established by-when, without burying themselves, and participating in a bit of "buck passing". Hum. Does this sound familiar to anyone?

In all likelihood, each of us has been here at some point before. So what is there to learn from these experiences, and how can you avoid having a totally plugged up and stopped team in the future?

Commitment: The #1 key to having a totally awesome and unstoppable team is to have a committed team; a team that is determined to reach your established goals and objectives no matter what; a team committed to the goal even in the face of not knowing for sure how to get there!
Communication: Without communication, even a great team will eventually breakdown. Fact is we are all human. Your team is human, and we all face human-type stuff. Being unstoppable generally means you and your team members agree and are committed to stepping out of your boxes and being vulnerable, which brings up one of the biggest "human-type" things we face Fear! No one can read our minds and without you and your team communicating, your fears, your upsets, your enthusiasm, your expectations, and your boundaries, your team will ultimately fall short.
Delegation: Nothing will dampen the spirit of a team faster than a team leader who is unwilling to fully delegate and utilize the talents of his or her fellow team members. Leaders who operate in this fashion are very thoughtfully referred to as Control Monsters. Now don't be offended if you see yourself here at all. Truth is, many of us have played this part at some point in our lives, and many more of us are card-carrying members of the club. The key to overcoming the club's clutches is to acknowledge your tendency, clean up where it has cost others, forgive yourself, stay present to your tendency, and when you need helpASK FOR IT! If there is something you want and you don't have it ASK FOR IT! People cannot read your mind
Authority: Now once the delegation issue is covered, you have to be careful not to trample the authority you give your team to carryout the delegation. For example: Jane is heading up Phase B of Bill's project, and Bill finds himself disagreeing with her approach to a particular aspect of Phase B. Oh, and Bill discovers this after discussing it, not with Jane, but with Jack. Bill then overrides Jane's directive to Jack, and Bill has Jack go about the issue in HIS way. Yicks!! There are few things worse than undermining a team member to another. In this situation clearly, Bill should have gone back to Jane and discussed with her how she came to conclude that the strategy she developed, for carrying out what Bill delegated to her, was the appropriate way to handle it. Then if Bill still disagrees, provide her with his input and together work out the best solution. Sound time consuming? Possibly, but consider what would be learned by your team and could then be applied in the future. In addition, there is no doubt, the time consumed by upset and consternation far outweighs the time it takes to have a conversation with your team members.
Accountability: With delegation and authority comes accountability. A team member that wants the power and prestige of a certain position has to be willing and fully understand that accountability is part of the package. If they don't get it, then no deal! The lack of accountability is the greatest pitfall of most teams and their leadership. People don't want to be held accountable, nor do they want to hold others accountable, and then they wonder why their team fails to measure up and obtain their goals. If you want a solid team that is steadfast and focused, everyone must own that they are accountable for what they say they are going to do, by-when they are going to do it, and the results they obtain.
Passion: Passion runs deeper than excitement. It is something that grabs you deep down inside and makes you wholeheartedly say, "Yes. I definitely want to be a part of this!" That is passion, and at its core it does not wane. Now, that is not to say that passion does not burn low from time to time, but this is where the human-type stuff shows up and can bring you down, if you let it. So how do you keep passion burning on high? Vision, communication, commitment, doing what you love and asking for what you want.

And just one more thing having F-U-N is not against the law!

Clay S. Nelson, the founder of Consulting Services Network LLC, and his team are committed to putting fun, family and financial freedom into everyones business and personallives. With over two decades of experience coaching business leaders in creating life balance, building teams, and writing plans, their programs are designed to alter the culturesof companies and families. They make a powerful and lasting difference with each person they meet, every group they speak with, and with every client they serve.