Building a Successful Team

True leadership is based entirely on your actions and behavior.

Your team judges your leadership ability based on what you say and what you do. They can't see into your heart to determine what you think or feel.

You are left with your actions. . . for better or worse.

That's it.

Your role as a leader is to establish a clear vision for your team, and align this vision with the hopes, goals, and desires of the individuals on that team.

How You Act is the Foundation of Success

As a leader, building a successful team is rooted deeply in your behavior. How you act is the foundation of your organization.

Successful teams are built by making connections. . . connecting the right people together, and connecting the right people with the right work.

Studies have shown that there is a huge gap between people and their work.

Most folks describe a huge chasm between their "real life" and their career. Their job feels like it's missing a "deeper meaning".

People don't connect with their work at a core level, and much dissatisfaction with their jobs is the result.

Is it possible to establish a team where people find "deeper meaning" in their work? If you're trying to build a successful sustainable team you will figure out a way.

The truth is, people are very similar to one another.

Our hopes, desires, and dreams really only differ by shades of degrees.

When we build our team with the knowledge that, at the core, all our team members want basically the same thing, we can design an effective model that will result in a happy successful team.

Real teams are established on authenticity. They are filled with real people who serve real needs.

As a leader you have some control over the team building process - but ultimately, building an effective team is a matter of letting go of your need to control people, and allowing them to do their jobs.

What You Can Control

You must find people whom you can depend on. As the team leader you are probably in the most vulnerable position.

In order to succeed, your team must participate together, yourself included.

There are no losers on a successful team. It is your job to equip your people with the right resources to allow them to thrive: the tools, people, environment, and community.

An Atypical Definition of Leadership

Typically, leadership is defined by who has power within any organization. This is the old model of power.

Building a productive and effective team is about empowering the individuals who form that team.

Real leaders give away their power to others, trusting their team will respond positively.

Trust is power. Effective communication is power.

The more quality seeds you sew, the more reward you're able to harvest later. That is the secret to building a effective team.