As leaders, formal or informal, building strong teams that are healthy and vibrant is our job. Recently I heard a professional colleague liken this process to the links in a chain. His philosophy was that if you focus on building and making each individual link stronger, then the complete chain will be stronger as a result. He suggested that when you help employees or team members build up their self-esteem and self-confidence, you are strengthening each link in the chain.
True. However, it also occurred to me that in this philosophy, all it would take to break the chain would be one weak link!
Build electrical cables, not chains
Consider a slightly different analogy. Think of the process of building strong teams as one of making electrical cable: individual wires, each one strong in its own right, intertwined and covered with an outer sheath of insulation. You still need to focus on building the strength of each individual wire by helping staff members build up their self-esteem and self-confidence.
However, take it one step further. Just as the real strength of the cable comes from the intertwining, the real success in building strong teams will come from helping employees learn to work with and rely on each other.
Give them the tools to communicate respectfully, and opportunities to learn from one another. Work on developing a positive team spirit, and encourage open and honest dialogue among team members.
As you intertwine the individual wires to make the cable stronger, your leadership role will shift to become the outer sheath of insulation. In building strong teams, be the buffer; insulate (as much as you can) your people from the impact of other equipment and cables around them. Then sit back, and watch the electricity crackle through!
Where have you seen strong individuals succeed or struggle based on how well a team worked together? What have you found most effective in building strong teams that rely on connection, not just individual capability? Please share your experiences so we can all learn together. Add your comment below.
Merge’s leadership development consultancy has one singular focus – to turn managers into leaders; to help great people become exceptional leaders so that they can turn their people power into real and tangible results. Through her speaking, training, consulting, mentoring and facilitation services, Merge helps leaders in organizations create high-performing workplaces.
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