Together Everyone Achieves More

I had started to write about another topic which mentions going the extra mile - but I will save that for another week.

So, I decided instead after another year of recruitment work and activities including open days and taster days etc and the usual intensive near four week period of enrolments, that I should honour the importance of the team.

I have realised that both in great customer service, in delivering a great experience, creating strong messages and delivering on huge projects as well as being the best you can be, being positive and having a growth mindset, it is all down to excellent team work: listening, caring and helping each other. Being accountable together. Celebrating together.

I don't often directly write about anything relating to my day job and try to be as professional as possible, but in the recent few weeks I am sure you like me feel grateful for your team and the wider team. The amazing thing is how much helping each other, the long hours because we all care and the amount of careful listening we have all done with our customers to get things done on time and to support their needs has been incredible from all parts of the business.

The power of teamwork - and especially when you are in the 'performing'  stage is amazing. Whether teams take years to get there, a few months or 6 days (I have seen all), working together, helping each other, listening, respecting each other skill-sets, owning up to mistakes but then solving them straight away (because its not about the mistake, its about how you solve it) caring and having fun is key. These all go together to create incredible outcomes. 

I climbed Kilimanjaro over seven years ago now (my first foray into mountain climbing and it gave me the bug ... I tell you) and the power of a performing team was revealed to me in such an awesome way. Here were 12 people from countries across the world, all very different people, and all here to climb Kili. Now, if you know anything about climbing one of the big seven, it's not that easy in the sense that you don't know what can go wrong, how your body will react or what the weather might do. And how the team will cope. The adventure company had covered a few bases including ensuring a slightly slower route up (which we had all signed up to) and giving us lots of prep information including what to pack, but most teams don't all make it up and we were a large team of 12.  On ascent night, most other teams had started before us or the same time and raced up overtaking us only to get to Stella Point and not make it the additional 45 minutes to the top. We were the first team to the top and although the weather was on our side we could see that most did not have this success. How?

I have asked this question a lot. 12 people who never met before formed, stormed, normed and performed in the space of 6 days. How? Well here is the secret: we all listened to each other; no-one took over and we all had an equal say and input, we respected the guides skills to lead us to the top and back down safely, we worked together, we cared about each other and looked after each other, and we had fun. We acted as a team. There is no 'I' in team (but there is nearly a meat pie!)

There is always a team leader, but they should just galvanise all the thoughts and expertise of all around into a coherent action plan. 

Since then I have climbed a few more mountains and listening to the people around you - as much as ensuring they are all alright (whether expert or novice) has always been key. I have since realised listening is the most powerful tool in our arsenal.... I wrote about this a few weeks back - and solved a customer situation at work via listening (the customer even remarked on this) so I know with real work examples about the importance of listening.

Back to customer service and an experience: its only because business support staff such as cleaners, caterers, IT, marketing, HR (to name a few) and curriculum staff and management all work together equally to do their bit, do we create a great experience. And one of these could let the team down. 

Everyone has their part to play to create an experience for a customer. Everyone is equally important.

Together Everyone Achieves More.... including climbing mountains - actual or metaphorical!