Like many of my fellow Detroit Lions fans, I am still celebrating Matthew Stafford’s latest Superbowl victory. As an EOS Implementer, I couldn’t help but notice that their victory was a nation-wide testimony to one of the foundational elements of EOS – Team Health. In his post-game interview, Stafford reiterated the important role teamwork played in their comeback victory, stating “It’s not me, it’s not any individual on this team. We’re a group, we’re a team. And to get it done together was so special.” This was the mantra of several other key players on the team, including coach Sean McVay. In practicing what they preached by putting the group first, this team worked together to secure a superbowl championship win. In any team setting, from the office to the football field, having a solid foundation of trust is the first step to achieving success – and EOS can help you get there.
You Can’t Succeed Without Trust
Though Stafford is credited with leading the Rams to victory, during his interview, he emphasized the importance of his team and how they worked together to win. In order for a team to achieve their vision, it’s not all about smarts – they need a group of good people that will work together to problem solve and make progress. According to Lencioni’s 5 Dysfunctions of a Team, the first foundational dysfunction you need to resolve as a team is absence or lack of trust. When members of a team are vulnerable with each other, they will be able to build trust with each other, allowing them to speak up, ask questions or make suggestions without fear of reprimand or termination. According to a Google study on what makes a successful team, high levels of trust is top of the list. The trust that was built between Stafford and the rest of his team took time and effort. They would spend hours practicing together before and after regular practice times, working through challenges, honing their skills, and creating their bond. Taking the extra time together is how the team built trust and could rely on each other. They knew each other’s strengths and weaknesses and were able to leverage that during the biggest challenges they faced.
How to Build Team Trust
Consider this: “Under pressure we don’t rise to the occasion, we sink to our lowest training.” Putting time and effort into team health and building trust is critical for those future challenges. When you hear the term “trust-building exercises,” it can bring up some uncomfortable feelings, especially in the workplace. You don’t want these people to know all your deep dark secrets – and that is not what we’re suggesting. In a safe setting without fear of judgment, you can be vulnerable, open up a little bit and acknowledge your weaknesses. It’s important that every member of the team participates to truly create that solid foundation of trust that comes from being vulnerable. The more you learn about each other and who you are as a person, the better you will work as a team. We are intentional about incorporating team health throughout our EOS journey. It is recommended that all team members participate in quarterly team building exercises. Here are a few examples:
- Personal History Exercise: Each team member answers 5 questions about their personal lives, sharing their answers with the rest of the team. Example questions include your hometown, first job, worst job, number of siblings, greatest fear, or something that nobody else knows about you.
- Three Truths and a Lie: Each team member writes down three truths and one lie about themselves. The lie should be somewhat believable. Go around the group and have each member read the truths and lie in a random order. Once they are done, discuss as a team to try and determine which one is the lie.
- Blind Drawing: Divide your team into groups of two with each member of the team sitting back-to-back. One person will have a simple drawing, a butterfly on a flower, for example, and the other should have a pencil and paper. The person with the picture provides instructions to the one drawing using only adjectives and directions, such as “draw a long line with curved ends,” etc.
If you work as a team, you will lead your business to victory
As a leader and business owner, it’s likely you often feel like it is your sole responsibility to lead your team to success. However, if you focus too much on doing everything yourself, you may not reach your goals. When you collaborate and create a strong team with a strong foundation you will go much farther and create real and strong relationships along the way. Stafford makes a great point when he says, “I get to work with people from all walks of life, come together and go for one goal” – it’s all about making sure all the voices are heard. We all see things differently, but at the end of the day, we use all those perspectives to achieve one common goal.
Are you ready to discover how EOS can help you with building a great team to lead your business to victory? Give me a call and sign up for your free 90-minute consultation today!
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