Teamwork. We all talk about it. We know we need it. But is our team this good?
Question: How do you keep your team performing at its best?
DISCUSS THE IMPORTANCE OF TEAMWORK- cm CHALLENGE 06/14/11
THE LESSON
If you’ve followed The collector mentor Challenge for more than a couple of weeks, you know that I love to use quotes. I find quotes to be a great tool for helping readers connect to key points. Quotes enhance the learning experience, increase retention, and lend third-party support to important concepts.
A person can find a supporting quote on just about any topic. For example, here are a few of my favorite quotes on teamwork:
Individual commitment to a group effort — that is what makes a team work, a company work, a society work, a civilization work.” ~Vince Lombardi
None of us is as smart as all of us.” ~Ken Blanchard
The way a team plays as a whole determines its success. You may have the greatest bunch of individual stars in the world, but if they don’t play together, the club won’t be worth a dime.” ~Babe Ruth
Teamwork is so important that it is virtually impossible for you to reach the heights of your capabilities or make the money that you want without becoming very good at it.” ~Brian Tracy
Gettin’ good players is easy. Gettin’ ‘em to play together is the hard part.” ~Casey Stengel
The nice thing about teamwork is that you always have others on your side.” ~ Margaret Carty
Teamwork is the ability to work together toward a common vision. The ability to direct individual accomplishment toward organizational objectives. It is the fuel that allows common people to attain uncommon results.” ~Andrew Carnegie
THE CHALLENGE
Last week you were challenged to Rally the Team, and this week’s challenge is to discuss the importance of teamwork with your peers.
To help guide the discussion, you might consider asking each person to share their favorite teamwork quote with the group. Alternatively, you can print the seven quotes listed above and ask team members for their thoughts on what the quotes mean to them (e.g., What does Blanchard mean when he says, “None of us is as smart as all of us?”)
THE REFLECTION
What did you learn about your teammates as a result of the group discussion?
Please share your thoughts in the comment section below.
Gary Jensen
Editor | collector mentor
To download companion worksheets to use with The collector mentor Challenge, please visit www.collectormentor.com/thechallenge.
© 2011 collector mentor All rights reserved.
Setting Goals – cm Challenge 07/27/10
THE LESSON – SET A TEAM STRETCH GOAL
This week’s challenge is inspired by legendary college football coach Lou Holtz:
“All winning teams are goal-oriented. Teams like these win consistently because everyone connected with them concentrates on specific objectives. They go about their business with blinders on; nothing will distract them from achieving their aims.”
Holtz was passionate about teamwork and goal setting. When he took over the reins of the Notre Dame program in 1986 he had the names removed from the players’ jerseys to emphasize teamwork. Although the team ended the season with a 5-6 record that year, they went 8-4 the following year, and in 1988 the Fighting Irish went undefeated and ended the season with a Fiesta Bowl victory, thereby claiming the NCAA Division I National Championship. When it was all said and done, Holtz ended his 11 year Notre Dame career with a 100 wins and 30 losses, including five bowl championships.
For additional insight I encourage you to invest three minutes of your time watching Holtz discuss the importance of goal setting:
THE CHALLENGE
The challenge this week is to work together as a team to identify one specific goal (preferably a stretch goal) to focus on in the month of August.
Here are some ideas:
- Perfect attendance.
- Score 100% for quality assurance monitoring.
- Set a new record for wrap time.
- Recover more money than any other month so far this year.
- End the month with zero customer complaints.
You’re going to need a positive attitude, put forth sincere commitment, and sharpen your focus to accomplish your mission, but don’t forget Holtz also reminds you that
No one has ever drowned in sweat.”
THE REFLECTION
- What did you learn about your teammates this week as you worked together to set your team goal?
- How can your team continue to benefit from setting team goals in the future?
- Was your team able to proactively identify potential roadblocks and devise work-arounds?
- What positive changes could your team make going forward in order to maximize the benefit of this challenge?
- How would continual practice of this challenge change your team?
Ready, sweat, goal!
Gary Jensen
Editor | collector mentor
To download companion worksheets to use with The collector mentor Challenge, please visit www.collectormentor.com/thechallenge.
