Rock climbing is a fascinating, intricate sport.
Proper holds, grip strength and a strong core determine your success. Most of these details are under the control of the climber.
As odd as it seems, climbing is not a solo sport. Each climber has to have a “belay” helping them up a wall. The belay is the person navigating the rope, serving as safety in the case of a fall, and helping the climber see from a different perspective.
A belay and a climber work as a team. Successful climbs depend on the trust of the team as much as the talent of the climber.
In the book Remarkable!, the author points out that all teams, even those existing outside of climbing, require the same levels of health and trust.
Another phrase for this type dynamic is Team Culture.
One thing we coach leaders and teams in at CourageToLead is Culture. Specifically, providing the actions you can take to nurture health in the culture on your team. Part of that coaching process is mapped out in the article below.
A Vibrant, Compelling Culture is Created When People On Your Teams…
BELIEVE the best IN each other.
Genuine belief in another person empowers that person to believe in herself.
Strong teams are confident in one another. If there is one person on your team no one can believe in, perhaps you have the wrong person on the team. If not one person on your team believes in one another, perhaps you have the wrong team.
WANT the best FOR each other.
Good leaders are good cheerleaders.
Teams that thrive celebrate the success of team members. A good gauge of team health is listening to how individuals privately talk about the success of peers on their team. Egocentric leaders want to keep the success of others in check. One unchecked ego can ruin an entire team dynamic.
EXPECT the best FROM each other.
Highly functioning teams are populated with highly functioning leaders.
High standards create good culture. Never be afraid to set the bar extremely high for your team in areas like results, attitudes and character. When others say your standards are too high, that’s when they are just high enough!
The secret to unlock these healthy desires among your team: TRUST.
Creators of thriving cultures are ambassadors of trust. They diligently search for it, violently fight for it and relentlessly guard it.
Remarkable! gives a good parting thought on the necessity of trust:
“Where trust is high, resistance is low. Therefore, change and progress come quickly. Conversely, where trust is low, resistance is high. Therefore, change and progress come slowly.” (pg 22)
You are a leader. Your team needs you to lead. Be that leader they need. Lead your culture. Lead for health. Lead for trust!
One of our coaches would love to walk you and your team through our process to a healthy team culture, but first, let’s start by discovering how coaching could best serve you and your team on a Strategy Call. Schedule a call today!
