“Alone we can do so little; together we can
do so much” -Hellen
Keller
“I’m overwhelmed” - my client, who works in a high-profile
leadership position said, almost breaking down
I’m almost sure that by now you’ve heard about U.S. endurance
swimmer Diana Nyad, 64, who became the first person to swim from Cuba to
Florida without the help of a shark cage. She swam for 53 hours without a
break, more than 100 miles in the open ocean! At first I thought the news was
about a crazy lady, and I didn’t pay much attention to this huge
accomplishment. For some reason, when my client said “I don’t see where I’m going”, I mentioned
Diana Nyad to her, and I realized that I do actually admire her, not only
because of her endurance and perseverance to go after what she wanted - at 64
years old!, but also because among the
many important decisions she had to make, she knew that her goal couldn’t be achieved
by herself. When Diana waded ashore she
said “... it looks like a solo sport,
but it is a team”, her victory was a true team effort.
After each try, over the past 35 years, Diana consulted with
experts on how to do better the next time so she can remain focused on her
goal, and that’s how she started building her team. The support team accompanying her included
coaches, physicians, technical personnel, a boat crew, accompanying kayakers,
and equipment that generated a faint electrical field around her to keep sharks
away. There were also divers standing by to deal with sharks in case they came
close, and researchers who developed a topical anti-jellyfish cream especially
formulated for the long hours she would spend in the water. A boat also dragged a line in the ocean to
help keep her on course. A pulmonologist was part of her team to help her with
asthma she had developed on a previous attempt. There were also observers
recording everything, handlers who put food in her mouth and wrapped her ankles
with tape at night, kayakers handled her water bottles, divers adjusted the
hood on her protective jelly fish suit, and a navigator and operations chief
among others. This team of professionals made sure she was focused on her goal
and nothing interfered with her mission, they kept the waters clear of sharks,
jellyfish, distractions, and currents, all for her. Thanks to her team, Diana
Nyad always knew where she was going, and she remained focused on getting
there.
Bottom line, you can jump into the unexpected and giant ocean
alone, with the intention to get ashore safely, but the chances are you will be
hurt, exhausted, lost and even might drown in the process. You heard this many
times and you know it, great achievements demand more than what one person can
deliver. With no exceptions!
Think of the talent you need to bring together in order to
achieve success. We all face some sort of currents, storms, jelly fish and
sharks. No more excuses: yes, the reality is that a team approach may take longer,
but in the long run teams achieve better results than going alone. Yes, it is
true that you don’t choose everyone on your team and many times you inherit
them, but there is training and checklists to assure efficiency. Yes, there is
attitude, but it can be addressed. Yes, not everyone is motivated, so motivate
them. Yes, you don’t always have a budget for a good team or a team at all, but
you can be creative and outsource some
of your work or work with volunteers and if you can’t do even that, be your own
advocate by planning ahead and don’t jump in the ocean if what you can do well
is jumping into a pool. Yes, you think working with others is one more
complication, but really? Be a good leader and make it work, or just know that
it is your choice to feel like drowning, but it is an option you can change as
soon as you decide.
From my experience working with my own teams in the past, I
learned a few things that are important to remember:
- Move from support staff to a team mind set. Ownership and
knowing that my success is yours, motivates everyone.
- Every member of a team has a
different role, but what makes it a team is that everyone adds to the success
of the mission. Collaboration is key, and helping each other is a must, but for
everyone on a team to be focused on one specific area is what guarantees
success.
- Surround yourself with people who know what you don’t know, who
are subject experts. Hiring people that add to your success is a no-brainer.
- Respect your team and listen to
them. Trust is key in every team, and a precondition for any team to succeed.
- There should be people on your team
for different stages of the process, those who will help you get ready, those
who will be with you during the journey, and those who will follow up. Make sure
to have support all along the way.
Nyad came out of the ocean with her face bruised, swollen and
sunburned. Even though she had the best possible team, her journey was
extremely challenging. But who said it would be easy? The main thing is to be
prepared and know that regardless of how difficult it will be you have a team
ready to weather the circumstances with you and they know what to do to help
you accomplish your mission.
Diana shared with the
media that she was determined with each stroke forward to “push Cuba back, and
push Florida towards” her. Think about the following questions:
- Which one is your Cuba and which one is your Florida? Be clear
from where to where you are going.
- Who do you need on your team to keep the sharks and jelly fish
away? Who do you need to fight currents and storms? To make sure you don’t get
lost? To keep you doing what you need to do without distractions?
- What will it take for you to make it happen?
Just as Diana Nyad, the speaker for the USA Oracle Team, who recently
had the greatest comeback in the history of sailing and won against the
Emirates Team New Zealand tweeted: “On your own you’re nothing, but when you’ve
got a team like this around you, they make you great”.
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