“Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence win championships”. Michael Jordan

I just love being part of teams. I have so many good memories of being part of many sports teams in my life. Wow, how many great people I met. Meeting so many different people. All of them with different skills and expertise. I feel very privileged to have been part of all these teams. Yes, even the bad ones. The unhealthy ones taught me much about the negative impact of unhealthy teams. I learned many things from being part of these teams. With some of them, we won competitions, with others it was fun even while ending last for the season. The camaraderie and inspiration has stayed with me. There is just something about being part of a team where you are home, feel inspired and finish a mission together.

Throughout my career I never thought of “going on my own”. Some individuals might not agree with me, that is ok. I truly agree with Michael Jordan’s saying, with your own talent you are limited in your achievements. There truly are no such thing as a self-made millionaire. No such thing as a person who achieved success without some support team. Some people do not like to work in many teams, and that is ok. There are various reasons for this. Many had bad experiences in the past. Some might not feel equipped. The reality is, not all teams will work out well. Team-ability or Team intelligence is something anyone can train.

There are 2 things we need to consider as we grow as teams. I will try and use the metaphor of the bridge to illustrate these 2 elements.

1. The Pillars

Pillars are the foundation for a bridge. A good foundation will bring safety, courage and speed for all who use the bridge. When the pillars of the bridge are strong it is easy for vehicles of all sizes and shapes to cross the bridge. Without stable and strong pillars people will be very hesitant to even step onto the bridge. They might have fear, insecurity and even be careful of the possible hazards. The pillars represent trust. Trust is the bedrock for performance. Trust is more than just liking the people you work with.

Trust is  3 elements.

a. Being Authentic – People want to see the real person. People each other to be transparent and authentic. Authentic means I am who I say I am. I do not pretend. I do not wear masks or try to please everyone.

b. Showing Empathy – Empathy is about caring for the success of those around us. To be intentional about helping others grow.

c. Living Logically – This might sounds weird. To live logically is to do what we say we will do. It is keeping our promises. It is having unity between our words and our actions.

Everyone in the team should live out all 3 elements of trust. High trust alone is not enough. If we only have trust then we are like a group of friends around the fire, chilling and relaxing. Laughing and having fun only.

2. The Road

Have you ever driven on a nice and smooth road? It is a breeze, even to be called a pleasant experience. It does not mean the road does not have stops or intersections. A good solid road is the result of a good foundation. Good performance takes energy. It also produces energy and innovation. The road represent performance. Performance is the result of high trust. High performance alone will lead to a toxic culture.

It is therefore important to build teams of high trust and high performance. If done well it truly is a beautiful balance, a sight to behold.

If I think back to the teams I was a part of, which achieved great things, I can honestly say that both trust and performance was an intricate part of the team.

I therefore want to encourage each one reading this blog, to keep building the trust and performance in your teams. If it is truly a toxic team, it might be time for a change.

This blog was written by Cias Ferreira

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