We started off this series, The Tricks of Teamwork, suggesting that teams are important assets to most business environments. But, a team is only as good as its team members. So, what characteristics contribute to a team member's ability to contribute? The first one mentioned was competency; the second is COMMITMENT.
Are you committed to achieving success? If so, how do you know? What about your actions convinces you that you're committed? Is it your drive, your attitude, your patience, the opinions of others, or your willingness to sacrifice whatever it takes? What does it look like to you to be committed to a team?
Some people believe they're committed because they care about the end result, others know they are committed because they will spend any sum of money to get where they want to go, and a rare few might think they are committed because they refuse to consider shortcuts. But, however you choose to define commitment, there are a few common traits among those that are committed to achieving success:
• Results-orientated. The end result matters. It is not the only important part of the process, but if it is not part of your equation, how can you really claim to care about all of the in-between that takes place?
• Focused. The going will get tough; in fact, most of the time, challenges are inevitable. So, will you waste time whining or put your energy toward productive efforts?
• Appropriately aggressive. Passive participation gets you nowhere with a team. A team is made up of active participants that challenge when appropriate, confront ambiguity directly, and hurdle the hiccups.
Do you have the stamina to stay committed to achieving the results you want? Start by asking yourself these three questions. Invite your teammates to ask themselves the same, and then create a dialogue around the different answers and attitudes.
When you hit a bump in the road, how do you typically handle the hardship?When you notice your teammates' motivation dwindling, what do you do?When your energy is gone and your time is spent, how do you respond?Making a commitment to your team amidst failure and tension can be hard, but it is this devotion to the greater purpose that brings a team together when nothing else will suffice. By combining competence and commitment, you are making a substantial contribution to your other team members, your project, and your success!
Doug C. Watsabaugh, senior partner at WCW Partners, understands how to meet your unique performance challenges. With more than 20 years of experience, WCW Partners is a performance-improvement company that helps businesses revitalize their results and achieve record-breaking performance.
If you are looking to excel in sales, service or leadership, let Doug develop the capability in you! http://wcwpartners.com/.