ELEPHANT ALERT!

Have you ever tried forcing opposing ends of a magnet together? It’s impossible to get them to connect.

Does your organization suffer from “diamagnetism”? Are there teams opposing each other?

From Wikipedia.org: “Diamagnetism is the property of an object which causes it to create a magnetic field in opposition of an externally applied field, thus causing a repulsive effect.”

To understand why diamagnetism is important, read the definition again, but this time substitute the “team” for the word “object.”

Like two magnets you can’t push together, diamagnetism occurs when two (or more) teams repel each other. And very little work gets done.

Here’s the elephant in the office: Organizations are filled with teams that repulse others. Shockingly, people tolerate this dysfunction! Toxic currents run through meetings and conversations. People might not say anything about this invisible force – but they can feel it. How is a company to succeed when various functions can’t connect?

STOMP THE ELEPHANT

“In order for us to win, it’s vital that the different layers of the organization can come together,” shares a friend, Rich. “If they repel each other we’re doomed.”

The code words for diamagnetism are “they just don’t understand.” When two groups begin saying this about each other, one thing is sure: no one understands. And the divisiveness expands.

Take three steps to create greater paramagnetism today:

1. Take responsibility when others don’t understand you;
2. Ask questions that help people focus on where the teams are working well together;
3. Relentlessly focus on the common goal the two teams share – and solutions to get there.

Where is there diamagnetism in your organization? Make functionABILITY happen.

Where will you lead – where will you stomp elephants – today?

ELEPHANT ALERT!

Imagine you are the coach for the defending Super Bowl champions, New York Giants. Because you won last year, you tell the team, “It’s obvious we have the best talent, so we’re not going to practice together. Just show up on game day ready to play.”

This insane approach would result in a 0-16 record and the end of your career. Shockingly, guess what the predominant approach is in business?

Here’s the elephant in the office: Despite the best of intentions, the traditional “training mentality” is costing companies billions of dollars. Giving people a “once-in-a-while” chance to improve how well they work together backfires; people become cynical and skeptical and an attitude of “the company values rhetoric” emerges as employees are exposed to a daily dose of dysfunctional teamwork.

“Once in a while” must be replaced with “all the time.”

STOMP THE ELEPHANT

An event-based, build-the-team-once-in-a-while mentality is the predominant approach in business. Most of the people reading this blog are a part of a company that has achieved a paradigm shift: It is in EVERY interaction you have with others that defines and determines your effectiveness as a team. This is the essence of culture.

Therefore, successful organizations equip team members with leadership tools they can apply in daily interactions. These companies understand that it is in every conversation you have with a colleague that you are either destroying your culture – or making it stronger.

Professionals understand that “game day” only reflects the efforts and effectiveness delivered in the previous six days. Instead of building a team “once in a while,” they know that the only way to win is via a systemic, moment-by-moment approach.

Results never lie: this is the only way to win. What will you do in your interactions today to bring your team one step closer to victory?

Where will you lead – where will you stomp elephants – today?

ELEPHANT ALERT!

A team in Windsor, Canada is kicking butt. Faced with a significant challenge, they need to deliver more product, faster, with greater quality, while using fewer resources. Here’s why they’ll succeed.

As they launched their healthy culture initiative each person was asked to identify what strengths the person to their right possesses. As people spoke the confidence in the room went to an all-time high. That’s when Jeff summed it up.

“When you add up the qualities we just heard you have the complete list of what it takes to be a great leader.” He looked around the room. “This team has everything it needs to be a success.”

Few organizations function at this level.

Here’s the elephant in the office: Most organizations espouse the importance of teamwork…and then reward the individual. Teams don’t get promoted, individuals do; they don’t do performance reviews for teams, they do them for individuals; and endless conversations are had about the people who are “ruining it for everyone” versus having a dialogue around “how our culture lifts the standard of conduct for all.”

STOMP THE ELEPHANT

Take teamwork beyond rhetoric for your team today by using this exercise: collectively identify the greatest strengths each person on the team brings each day. Keep a master list. Then ask these questions:
1) How can we leverage the greatest strengths in each other?
2) What will it look like as each of us is free to live these strengths even more?
3) What outcomes are possible when we collectively approach the obstacles in front of us?

The greatest successes are achieved by those who discover and leverage the brilliance in each other.

Where will you lead – where will you stomp elephants – today?