Prioritizing Team Success Over Individual Goals

Here’s a part of Belle’s culture that might seem odd at first, but stick with me … No individual public praise. We celebrate team wins rather than rewarding individual successes, upholding a “We” not “Me” mentality. While someone’s name may be attached to an outcome, very rarely were they the only ones involved in making that success possible. It takes a team to build meaningful strategies, execute ideas and uphold our values. So instead, individual credit is given to team members directly and often, and public praise is reserved for teams. The risk of a negative undercurrent isn't worth the temporary reward of individual public praise. On that note, when was the last time you told a teammate that you appreciated them? A quick note of encouragement or recognition can be just the boost someone needs to keep going and could even be a total game-changer. #teambuilding

𝟯 𝗪𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗖𝗮𝗻 𝗛𝗲𝗹𝗽 𝗘𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗼𝘆𝗲𝗲𝘀 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘇𝗲 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝗘𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗴𝘆 - In our busy and complex world, teams will often bring the mindset that everything is of critical importance and merits the highest priority. The unfortunate truth with this mindset is that if everything is a priority, then nothing is a priority. Team members must be responsive to urgent requests, just not at the cost of moving forward their most important goals. How can leaders create an environment where team members feel safe to say NO or push back against the inevitable onslaught of activities that get in the way of accomplishing their most important priorities? 𝟭) 𝗖𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗚𝗼𝗮𝗹𝘀 𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 Teams must develop the capacity to continually assess and reset, when necessary, their priorities to meet new challenges and remain on track for success. This clarity allows team members to create healthy boundaries for how to invest their time and energy. The following questions can help teams reflect and adapt to a shifting environment. • What has changed? / What is still the same? • What have we learned? • How do we need to update our goals, priorities, or processes? • How do we need to work differently? 𝟮) 𝗥𝗼𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗔𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝗧𝗼 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗰 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗪𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗰 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀  A clear understanding and alignment to the most strategic company goals enables team members to understand what activities are most important for success. If everything is a priority, then nothing is a priority. 𝟯) 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁  For team members to have a laser-like focus on their most important goals, leadership must agree that the team is focusing on the right priorities. Without leadership support, team members will never feel safe to say ‘no’ when ongoing emergencies get in the way of accomplishing their most strategic activities.   Being empowered to say no does not mean that team members are not responsive to urgent requests; it just means they do not do it at the expense of accomplishing the team’s most important goals.   Do you agree? Share your COMMENTS below. ⬇️ 𝗛𝗶𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 🔔 𝗼𝗻 𝗺𝘆 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗶𝗹𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗲𝗱 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗜 𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘁 | Tony Gambill Subscribe to my ↗️ 𝐂𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐕𝐢𝐞𝐰 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 ↗️, newsletter to join 35,545 others who receive biweekly practical tips for Self-Leadership and Leading Others: https://lnkd.in/dYRwgY96 #leadership #management #careers #humanresources

Leadership isn't just about advancing personal goals or even those of our immediate teams. It's about prioritizing the mission and objectives of the entire organization to ensure its long-term success and sustainability. Adopting an organization-first mindset requires making decisions that benefit the company, even when these decisions involve personal sacrifices or tough calls. This approach cultivates a culture of unity, aligns teams with the overarching vision, and drives collective progress. When leaders embrace an organization-first perspective, they: Enhance Collaboration: by promoting cross-functional teamwork, they help achieve shared goals. Drive Innovation: focusing on the bigger picture encourages forward-thinking solutions. Build Trust: demonstrating a commitment to the organization's success fosters credibility and trust among all team members. Prioritizing our own goals and ambitions or even those of our immediate teams may feel safer and more natural; however, by emphasizing the broader mission, we can unlock synergies that propel not just a few but the entire organization forward. #leadership #culture

As part of a team, it's vital to prioritize the mission over individual egos. If a fellow team member excels at a task, allow them to take the lead and focus your own effort on how you can best support the team in other ways. It’s also important not to solely define success as being the most intelligent person in the room. Other equally essential strengths exist. By creating a collaborative environment, we can inspire our teammates to make their greatest contributions, and that’s how everyone can win.

Have you ever worked under a leader who prioritized their own success over the team's needs? That experience can be a powerful lesson in what not to do. Dale Carnegie's insight, 'The rare individual who unselfishly tries to serve others has an enormous advantage,' resonates deeply in today's leadership landscape. In 'Take Command,' my co-author, Michael Crom and I delve into this concept, advocating for a leadership style rooted in empathy and selflessness. It's a common scenario in the professional world: the tug-of-war between personal goals and the drive to assist others. Yet, embracing the latter can be a game-changer. Serving others isn't just about altruism; it's a strategic and fulfilling approach to leadership. It builds trust, forges stronger connections, and often leads to unexpected opportunities. This philosophy of putting others first, which we explore in 'Take Command,' can profoundly impact our professional and personal lives. True leadership success, as Carnegie suggested, comes from the ability to balance our ambitions with the genuine desire to uplift those around us. Reflect on your experiences: Have you encountered a self-centered leader who hindered growth, or a selfless one who uplifted the entire team? Share your stories in the comments and let's explore how leadership styles profoundly impact both individuals and businesses. TakeCommandBook.io

“As a leader, prioritize team building and developing trust and confidence among your leaders, rather than seeking results in the early stages of a command relationship. Short of a combat operation or significant risk to personnel or property, our tolerance for mistakes should be relatively high. Increased confidence and trust should be a primary outcome of every team event or operation, rather than emphasizing that teams execute individual tasks perfectly. Building subordinate leaders who possess resiliency and problem-solving skills is far more beneficial than developing teams who cannot adjust fire when the mission changes.”