Leading by Serving - Deep Team Building

Often when I explain how things work at the Edge to folks inquiring about team building over the phone, I can hear the sound of eyebrows being raised as the person I am speaking with tries to understand the value of . . . doing your own dishes while they are here for a team building retreat.

After all, our team building services are not cheap. So in addition to the incredible team building experiences we offer, why shouldn't we have their plates cleared for them so that they can get on with the business of their team building retreat.

It's not easy stepping into the role of service, particularly for executives who spend much of their time in a traditional hierarchical business structure.

Service and caring for the team is the essence of true team building. By having empathy for those we work with, we motivate and inspire each other to be the best people we can be. . . achieving and overachieving as a team. It can be easy to demonstrate such behaviours when we're out for a day of team building adventure, or doing some dreaming together and creating business strategy plans.

But when the work has been done, and a wonderful team meal has been enjoyed, what happens when empty plates litter the table is more telling of the true potential of any team we work with.

Clearing the table of plates of team members, washing them by hand, drying and placing them on the counter for the next meal is a unique team building opportunity that isn't available in traditional settings.

The conversations about personal and team business objectives carries much more weight when we can demonstrate in the simplest everyday actions that we care for the well-being of one another. This is the essence of a team building towards something greater than individual success.

Just think about it: Where are there untapped opportunities to serve your team members?

Just do it:Take opportunities to do things outside of the traditional power structure norms if it fits with the culture of your organization for true deep team building.