This discussion is one of a series on the words Teamwork, Leadership and Change. I find it no coincidence that the three words form the acronym TLC. Though separate and distinct words they also very closely linked in the context of success in our personal and professional lives. To achieve one of the three, we need the other two to occur, as I will describe as I proceed through this discussion.
Teamwork is a frequently used word that describes collaboration by multiple parties in an effort to attain an agreed upon goal, like finishing a project or winning a game/match. Teamwork requires that people work together, and in the process often sacrifice in some way to get the most out of the team. In fact, the word teamwork implies that members of the team are willing and required to put selfish gain and personal interest aside for the overall good of their team. Therefore, the implication is that teamwork is not easy and sometimes counter intuitive to our natural tendencies of looking out for “number one”.
Yet, is participating in a team effort really sacrificing if the “reward of winning” is a real possibility? Doesn’t that then make teamwork just another way of feeling good about attaining something valuable? We have all heard the term “team player” in reference to someone who is considered unselfish or willing to forego individual gain for team success. So the question is – “is that person really unselfish if they can gain reward from the success of the team?”
I believe that nothing is entirely unselfish because nothing good, noble or right goes without its reward. As a practicing student of “servant leadership”, I know firsthand that it doesn’t go unrewarded. Just as a team player is rewarded by the success of the team hoisting a trophy or completing a software installation on time and under budget, a servant leader can feel good about someone else’s success. That good feeling itself is a reward.
There is also something really special about teamwork that is different than individual achievement. Teamwork requires an altered focus that takes away from being totally individualistic and into the realm of thinking about others as part of the process. Riding a bicycle as an individual in a race is very different than riding as part of a team. If Chris Froome rode in the 2015 Tour de France without Team Sky, the likelihood of him winning the race would have been almost certainly impossible. His team members shared in his success and the overall team success, but in the end it was Chris who pulled on the yellow jersey and stood on the podium. His teammates acted as role players to compliment Chris and help make him champion.
For those of us who have participated in team sports, we understand that the “thrill of victory” exists in team activities as well as individual achievements. Being the top scorer on a team is not necessary to experience the full reward of victory. When I am the leader of a team, a mentor, teacher or a coach, a win for the group or individual is a win for me. So even when not focusing on my own personal success, in essence, I am doing just that because their success becomes mine. Their success reinforces that servant leadership has value and that my intentional efforts to become better at it than I am today has a positive impact. And to me, that is what matters most.