For the last few months I have been in training for the Race for Life. You may or may not be aware, but it is a 5km race where participants raise sponsorship and awareness for Cancer Research UK.
I have done the Race for Life previously but this is the first time I have done it as a part of a team. It has made a real difference to me to have that team. We motivate and support each other. Over the bank holiday weekend alone we raised £188 with a few very simple but well-orchestrated activities, whereas previously my fundraising for such races has been relatively minimal. It has got me thinking about how much difference a good team around you can make.
This Month… Analyse your team
This month take time to think about those work colleagues closest to you. Do they help or hinder you?
Does your superior always ensure that your skills are used to the best of your abilities?
Do your contemporaries work with you so that you both achieve more than you would if working alone?
Do you support staff truly take pressure off you and free up your time for more important tasks?
All teams have needs and requirements and there needs to be a variety of personalities to fulfil them all. Often problems arise when teams are too loaded with one trait and lacking in others. So much has been written on personality profiling but a mix within a team is the essential thing. You need some active and outgoing members, some passive and reserved members, some task orientated members and some people orientated members.
Think about your team, if you all fall into only one or two of these categories then it could lead the team (and you!) to perform at less than its potential. It could also be time for you to decide whether to try to make changes to your current team structure, to build a good mix around you; or whether it is time to look for a new team that can better use your strengths and support your weaknesses. After all, we can all be improved with a good team around us!
Once again many thanks for reading this email, if you have any questions then please do get in touch/ leave a message below and of course if you would like to donate to my Race for Life then please donate here.
