The paradox of 'team first'
Team first" behaviours require individual members to believe and experience that it is in their interest for the team to succeed. Photo by Jeffrey F Lin on Unsplash
To team up effectively requires individuals to consider the group and not just themselves. This actually requires a lot more than platitudes or nice words on a wall. It requires individuals to be vulnerable, expose themselves to some risk and to feel like there is value in being a part of the group. It is a form of sacrifice to contribute to the greater good. We will do it when the benefit outweighs that sacrifice.
Team members are able to make choices and take actions that prioritise the needs of the team over their own needs when they:
• see their individual identity reflected in the team’s collective identity
• have a clear understanding of the purpose that the team serves.
It should be clear that this is not altruism. Relying on altruism is a risky and flawed strategy to adopt for team performance. Relying on people to do the right thing by the team simply because they are told it would be nice for others is not a long-term path to success. What putting the team first requires is for individual members to believe and experience that it is in their interest for the team to succeed. Herein lies the paradox:
To make it all about the team, make sure individuals are getting what they need!
Here are some questions for you to get you started this week:
What is the value that each member is experiencing as being a part of this team?
How can you assess what each member is getting from being a member of the team?
Is it sustainable to rely on goodwill for each member to deliver their best contribution to the team?