So the summer is coming, the Vaccinations are being rolled out and an air of optimism is starting to return. It’s an opportunity to refresh and make things better. To do better than previous years and correct the mistakes of the past. You have new plans, systems and processes that will make your team the best they have ever been. If ….. the people involved get their attitude right and apply themselves, that is.
So as is always the case, you can “bring a horse to water, but you can’t make them drink it”. All of the groundwork and staff education you have put in to date, relies on the team’s mindset. Will they apply themselves to implementing all of your good work? Have they got the Motivation, Focus, PMA, Persistence & Beliefs to make it happen? Because without the right Mindset and Team Culture, the other stuff won’t impact. It’s like looking to build a house and not paying attention to your foundations. As the build progresses, everything looks sound. But as soon as it’s tested, by the weather, a tremor etc. the cracks begin to appear and you know it wont take much for the deck of cards to come tumbling down.
If you don’t Design your culture, it will evolve by Default. Then, with the first real test of your “new and improved” plans, system and processes you may learn that the “Default” culture is not as you would have “Designed”. It may be expressed as a lack of confidence, a drop in motivation or perseverance, becoming distracted or losing faith.
When you ignore your foundations (ie Team Culture) at the beginning of the build, you can’t be overly surprised with your team if they display a disappointing mindset through testing times. Going back in to sort out your foundations, when the walls are cracking, will prove to be a much more timely, costly and difficult task. Where you’ve got a culture of individuals taking the “Umbrella Position”, (ie Keeping themselves dry) it leads to the team looking to deflect the blame elsewhere, rather than considering how they might contribute to the solution. The attitude of, “well, I’m alright Jack” or expressions of hindsight wisdom like, “I knew that …..”, will only cause the team culture to further diminish and performance will continue to be affected. It will lead to individuals avoiding responsibility, by looking to apportion blame to anyone other than themselves.
The Moral of the story is …. Lay Sound Foundations. Design your Team Culture to withstand these inevitable tests. Ensure that everyone understands the Vision and how it benefits them (This will ensure Motivation & Persistence). Everyone should be involved in the design of the plan to deliver the Vision (This will ensure they feel Valued and take Responsibility). Everyone should know their responsibilities (This will keep them focused). And finally, but key, you should all agree on the Core Values that team members will adhere to (This will ensure that a Positive & Solution Focused attitude will be the overriding approach to difficult situations).
If the traditional skills and responsibilities of “Management” have been the measurement and control of Money, Time & Quality. The new skills of Leadership are ensuring that their teams have the sound foundations of the correct Mindset & Team Culture. They Design their Teams to be able to withstand the trials and tribulations that will inevitably test their best-laid plans.
Damian Shields is a Performance Coach and the owner of Focus2Succeed. He works with Leaders & Teams to help them “Get their world in Focus & Design their future”. To find out more go to www.Focus2Succeed.ie. You can contact Damian @ Damian.Shields@Focus2Succeed.ie or on 00353 (86) 2512421.
