Posted on June 16th, 2010
Recently, I facilitated a teambuilding session with a marketing team from a leading company in the pet products industry. The day was exhilarating and rewarding. I’m continually inspired by teams who are committed to creating deeper connections with each other and improve their overall performance. One of the things we did together was select a set of values for the team that will guide their actions and attitudes going forward, and help them to achieve their organizational vision. One of the values they selected, and a theme that surfaced over and over again throughout the day, was respect.
Respect for this team is paramount to their long term success. And, for any team, respect serves as a foundation for more effective collaboration, innovation and problem solving. Why? Because when there is respect on a team, there is room for different perspectives and new ideas. Respect creates space for passionate dialog around varied philosophies and a diversity of opinion that can lead to rich and complex solutions to everyday problems. When I asked the team to define what respect would look like on their team, they answered simply:
· Listening to each other without judgment.
· Making sure everyone has a voice.
· Thanking each other for a job well done.
· Sharing resources.
· Treating everyone as equals.
Take some time this week and talk with your teammates about respect on your team. It’s simple, and can make a huge difference.
Respectfully,
Lynae
