06/16/2019

Teamwork Makes the Dream Work

Source: Fleet Management Weekly

In “How to be Successful in a Customer Driven World,” I shared three essential components to keep pace with the complex dynamics of today’s workforce: being adaptable, collaborative and organized. While honing all three skills may open doors for new responsibilities and your growth within your organization, I’d like to elaborate on the impact of collaboration in a customer driven world.

Collaboration starts with being a good listener and being open to opposing ideas – but it doesn’t end there. Accountability and dependability also play an important role. When working toward a common goal, you are responsible for your piece of the puzzle. Your team trusts and respects your level of skill and expertise to successfully manage and execute your tasks. And when it does come together, the results can be rewarding.

This reminds me of when my parents would take me to the symphony when I was growing up. At first, I didn’t care for it. It was long, boring and I got home late and tired. But over time, I learned to appreciate the dozens of individuals, playing different instruments and segments of the orchestration, all coming together to form perfection that can’t be created by just one violist, or one pianist. With just one performer, the music is still beautiful, but not as rich in its tone, complexity and quality. It takes everyone in that orchestra, with their different instruments and talents, to create that perfect sound that can give an audience goosebumps once perfected.

Same could be said when you have a team of people in your organization, all focused on the same goal. Everyone has a variety of skill sets and expertise, but when they come together, swaying to the same rhythm to solve a problem or move an initiative forward—it is perfection. That focus, that rhythm, is essential when collaborating in a customer driven world.