Five Teambuilding Lessons From Oz

It’s the happiest movie ever made according to the movie promo.  It’s a classic and in the top ten for many categories by the American Film Institute.  Timeless characters, memorable music, great lines, a great villain, and family friendly to boot (I remember watching with my oldest daughter when she was two).

But now, more than 35 years after I saw it the first time, I see so many other great leadership lessons in it.  We could talk about communication, attitude, vision, or belief – but teambuilding is one of the best.

We have all probably worked with people on our own teams that have similar issues as the Scarecrow, Tinman, Lion, Dorothy, and even the Wizard.

• The Scarecrow doesn’t believe he is smart enough.
• The Tinman is missing a heart.
• The Lion lacks the self-confidence to move ahead and doesn’t know how to do so without bullying.
• Dorothy is in a constant state of being overwhelmed or in awe of everything around her.
• The Wizard has no substance except the smoke and mirrors act until his cover is blown and he forced to be himself.

How did they overcome their difficulties?  They had a task that brought them together (getting to Oz), they celebrated their accomplishment, and then took on the tougher task together that brought out the best of each of them.  The final achievement of melting the witch took brains, heart, courage, and determination.  Each one had to participate and bring their strengths to the task.

What can we learn about teambuilding?

1. Team members need a safe environment to build trust and share their strengths and weaknesses.
2. A common task that is achievable unifies the team – everyone wants to get to Oz, right?
3. Celebrate – it’s always great to smile and have fun, even if for a short time.
4. Assign or take on a new challenge that builds on the foundations started.
5. Reflect and share what was learned and celebrate personal growth.

There is no place like home, but the journey for the team is where the magic happens.

Self Leadership

"If you look to lead, invest at least 40% of your time managing yourself -- your ethics, character, principles, purpose, motivation, and conduct." 

(Dee Hock, founder of VISA)

The quote from Dee Hock is a great challenge.  Unless I, as a leader, invest my time in keeping the foundation strong, I will soon be trying to lead from a position of deficit.  I need to be keenly aware of what it is that keeps me grounded so that I stay connected to my individual purpose, committed to my values and principles, and aligned with my behaviors and my beliefs.  Whether or not 40% is the magic number is not the issue - but being fully committed to leading myself is the critical point.

Some of the greatest people failures in the world have happened because too much time was spent trying to lead from a position of deficit.  The deficit was created by projecting an image that was personally not sustainable.  A lessened personal commitment to the promoted values settles in, an understanding of a life purpose and self worth greater than the project's outcome was lost, a sense of entitlement and being above the rules was allowed a gravitational pull, and a disconnection from accountability slipped under the radar.

None of these things happened overnight or even intentionally.  They started when the commitments and habits for self leadership slowly slipped through rationalizations and misuse of time.  Before long the foundation eroded and the collapse happened.

Schedule time for self leadership activities.  It may be practices of faith, commitments to personal growth found in conferences and study, daily planning habits and wellness habits, or accountability to a peer group or mentor.  Our teams are depending on us.

Unplugged

I unplugged last week.  No internet or email.  No cell phone.  No TV. 

Reality entertainment was watching the storm come over the top of the mountain.  It was watching the many deer in the knee high grass surrounding the cabin.  Reality entertainment was joking with my daughters over Farkle (the real game with dice and not the electronic façade), Yahtzee, and Skip-bo.  It was the short snowball fight at the top of the mountain.  Reality entertainment was flipping a canoe in the river and hiking back to the cabin.  It was sitting with my wife in complete awe mesmerized by a powerful waterfall roaring down the mountains from melting snow. 

We read books.  We hiked. We laughed.

In a world where news is old 30 minutes after it occurs we can be distracted in an instant with texts, calls, posts, and videos.  We can be distracted from fulfilling what we are called to do thinking that we have to know everything.   

Can you unplug more frequently and be content with what is needed and not what is available? I am going to try.

The Gift Given

At the end of the book Leaper: The Misadventures of a Not-Necessarily-Super Hero by Geoffrey Wood, our hero – James – is complaining about not wanting his superpower.  The conversation with his mentor goes like this:

“You have been changed, James.  You have been given a gift.”
“I don’t want this gift.”

“The gift is not for you – its for others.  Everything we are given is for others. God has already changed you and you can’t do anything about that.”

Think about that statement – the gift is not for you, but others. 

Sometimes we like to share our gifts because of how it makes us look.  Sometimes we think of our talents as ours to do with as we please – to control and make us happy.  But the intent is for a greater good beyond ourselves. God created each of us with a unique set of talents, gifts, and strengths.  The gifts were given for the benefit of others and to accomplish a work, a task, and purpose specific to each of us.  I can’t give it (them) back or trade them in.  I have been called to share them.

As a member of Gallup's Faith Practice noted, "We need to come to the realization that if we don’t contribute our gift, the entire world suffers a loss".  That is a powerful perspective.

The New Century Version of the Bible says it simply in Ephesians 2:10.  “God has made us what we are. In Christ Jesus, God made us to do good works, which God planned in advance for us to live our lives doing.”

You can’t give the gift back – are you using your gift for the benefit of others? 

Reminders on Leadership from the Bike Seat

I usually ride solo for my workouts – but on Sunday, two of my three teenage daughters and wife wanted to go as well.  I downsized the ride and we completed our 13 mile trek through Minnehaha Falls, Ft. Snelling, and the Big Rivers Trail.  We stopped a handful of times to look at the scenery, get drinks, and view the bridges from the opposite side of the ride.  It wasn’t at the workout pace I anticipated, but the end result was everyone had fun and enjoyed the time out on the trail. 

As I reflected back afterward, I realized that there were good reminders on leadership from the ride – things I know but sometimes forget.

·         Everyone likes to know where they are going.  Explaining the journey and what can be expected helps people know how to prepare.

·         It’s important to celebrate the intermediate victories.  We stopped and saw the trail from higher and lower vantage points from the opposite sides and it brought a sense of accomplishment.  It provides a chance to take a quick breath before moving on.

·         Giving ample time for change of direction eliminates frustration (and prevents unplanned crashes).  Groups function better when important changes in plans are communicated with time to react.

·         Checking in helps you understand if the pace is right – are people comfortable, can they do more, do they need encouragement.

And the final reminder from my wife…"if you want them to like riding, you have to ride at a pace where they can keep up.”  Same thing with our teams – while it is our job to set the pace, it is also our job to make sure that we have everyone along with us.  Or it is just another solo ride (which I still got in after everyone dispersed to other activities when we got home).