Call it for your team . . . Is being on your team more like a “time bomb”? or more like a “time multiplier?” What makes the difference?

You know the answer if you have experienced the “time multiplier” effect when working on a team. It’s like a dream team. Imagine this team and the time you were a part of this dream team. What made it so?

My dream team was a team comprised of leaders from across our state (Texas) charged with the responsibility of hosting a national conference. Stakes were high . . . the conference image and brand were in our hands. Our reputation was on the line. And, besides that, you know what that means to a group of proud Texans. Exactly the same it would mean to you and your state leaders.

What made this a dream team? First and foremost, there was focus on a common goal. Norms or Agreements for how we would work together were articulated in the first meeting. From the beginning, roles were defined and each person knew what their piece of the pie was to be. Over the 18 months of planning, each team member produced evidence of progress toward the overall goal.

While most team members had worked together previously, the intensity and high standards of the work were potentially stress-producing. This was tempered by intentionally building community, laughing a lot, and celebrating our successes all along the way. While the work was important; our relationships with one another were even more important.

So, how does this move into our workplace? While grade levels and departments have been the team structure for most of us, much is being said about PLCs as a way to accomplish our work. A high performing one is undeniable when you watch them in action. Leadership shifts depending on the purpose, energy is consistently high, and focus on students is evident and ever present.

Commitment and trust are unspoken yet present as the group interacts, demonstrating respect for diversity of thought with an expressed value for stretching and growing. While they work hard, at the same time . . . they are having fun!

So, in what ways is your team ensuring they are a “time multiplier?”
What contributions are you personally making to create a dream team where you work?