Give a little, get a little...
Every day we face decisions that benefit us or others, whether it's letting someone merge in traffic or leaving a nice tip for exceptional service. We live in a society, and the only way we can move forward is to consider our impact on others. Let's take a look at when we need to choose what's best for the team over what's best for us.
Can You Put the 'I' in Team?
If you enjoy sports, you’ve probably seen all-star players put the team on their back and try to carry them to victory. Sometimes it works, but other times it’s selfishness that hurts everyone.
While it is an overused metaphor, your company truly is a team. Each person has unique strengths that benefit the group. And whether you’re the person in charge or in an entry-level position, there are times when what is best for you might be at odds with what is best for the group. Here are a few areas worth discussing.
Take Care of Yourself
This seems contradictory at first glance. How can focusing on yourself help you put the team first? It’s all a matter of degrees. You don’t want to only consider your needs in every situation, but you should give yourself the time to eat right, get adequate rest, and keep your skills sharp with professional development. That means when you’re there doing your work, you’re giving it your best. Choosing to spend too much time working can actually lead to more mistakes and worse results for everyone.
Communicate Clearly
Poor communication is probably the biggest internal problem businesses face. In person, over chat or in emails, make sure people know exactly what you’re committing to do and what you are asking of them. It's easy to dash off quick, half-coherent notes and get back to your task list, but it can cause problems for others when you’ve only got your needs in mind.
As leaders, we need to set clear expectations, check-in and allow people to tell us if tasks are reasonable or not, even if our pride is at risk. And if you’re on the receiving end of assignments, you need to suck it up and tell managers (politely) if there is something they are overlooking. Better to deal with it up front than to have problems days or weeks down the road when it's too late to change.
Let It Go
Apologies to my parents out there who now have a certain song stuck in their heads. But back to the team analogy, if someone is the best at one task, let them excel. If you’re managing the design team you don’t need to be the best designer. If you write copy, trust your marketing manager to shape the campaign (but be willing to offer suggestions). And just because you can use Excel formulas doesn’t mean you should take care of operations. Don’t try to do everything, or nothing will be its best.
Help Others Succeed
Everyone can do this to some extent, even when it requires some sacrifice on your part. Leaders should give people assignments -- and the resources they need -- to complete them well. And remember to thank your people publicly for their hard work, even if you don’t get all the glory. The more your team members succeed, the more valuable they become, and the more loyal they will be.
For everyone else, don’t be afraid to step in and help a coworker with a difficult task, even if you get a few minutes behind. There will most likely be a time they will be able to help you out of a bind. Choosing to put other people first has a way of coming back around to you.