|
What I Learned About Teamwork From
The Amazing Race
Screamers, blamers, name-callers, supporters, leaders, and followers could all be found in the recent group of eleven teams featured on The Amazing Race. Yet another season has come to an end and like all the other seasons, personalities ruled. Nothing like a race to bring out the best and the worst in people.
Eleven teams, all different, and every team member bringing his or her unique strengths and weaknesses to the table, I mean race. Watching each one in action only reinforced what I've learned about teamwork and what works and what doesn't work.
1. Do not focus solely on the goal (prize, reward) so that you forget about the journey. When you are so fixated on the end result you fast forward through many of life's experiences and rob yourself of the joy of everyday living. I'm not saying to lose sight of the goal, only to keep today's moments in your sight also. If you don't enjoy the journey, you will not enjoy the destination. Nate and Jen were so focused on winning the big prize or even one of the legs of the race that they lost sight of their relationship and thus sabotaged any chance they had of success.
2. Recognize each other's strengths and weaknesses and use those to your advantage. Each individual brings to a team their unique talents and it is those talents when combined with the strengths of all the other team members that will lead the team to success. When you come to a roadblock or a detour determine whose talents are best suited for the task.
3. Be supportive of your fellow team members. Offer encouragement, praise, and appreciation to encourage and bring out the best in your teammate. There is no place for name-calling or the blame game. In the heat of the moment when emotions can get out of hand, realize that there will be a tomorrow when you have to face your teammates again. You must accept personal responsibility for your own actions. Several of the racing teams were caught in name-calling and blaming situations (of course the cameras were catching every move). Playback mode was probably eye opening and isn't that what we do in slow motion when we look backwards.
4. Remain focused and calm while riding the waves. Life does not always go as planned, the project or the case the team is working on begins to fall apart, and one disaster leads to another. What happens next depends on the strength of your teamwork. Do you have what it takes to get you through the rough times or do you crumble? When TK and Rachel had to overcome a U-turn they knew they had to stay focused and calm if they were going to be able to make up the lost time.
5. Likewise, do you have the ability to regroup when life hands you lemons? You must have the wherewithal to get yourself and the team back on track. You can learn from your mistakes and wrong turns and stay focused on the end result to achieve what it is you want. Do you give up before the finish line because you have a sour lemon aftertaste in your heart and mind? Make lemonade instead.
6. Look for these character traits in your team: trust, respect, communication, enthusiasm, confidence, honesty, responsibility, and perseverance, among others. What is valuable for your team?
7. Above all, have fun, celebrate your successes, and savor the moments. Together, everyone can achieve more and have fun in the process.
The teamwork lessons from The Amazing Race can be extrapolated to all other arenas of your life. Your marriage and your relationships with your family, friends, business associates, colleagues, and employees can all be made stronger when teamwork is effective. Let teamwork be the fuel which takes you to success.
|
