Leading Leaders

As students we are trained to be competitive. Our high school, undergraduate and graduate classes are ranked according to levels of achievement. Our very admission into a well known university depends on how we measure up, not just against our classmates, but legions of students around the world.

Throughout college we strive to be the best students we can. We study, we party, we sleep, then study some more. We graduate and enter the business world. And everything changes.

As business professionals we are expected to perform as members of a team not of our choosing. We are no longer measured simply on our own performance, we are required to act as a support system to people we may or may not socialize with outside of the office. These team members might be spectacular, or lazy, or ill-tempered.  So how then, are we expected to succeed?

Team settings can be extremely uncomfortable, and often downright intimidating. The person that can perform well in office team environments often finds that they do well in outside situations, as well. There are some fairly simple skills that you can utilize to make yourself an effective facilitator / team member.

1. Be the stick in the mud.  Okay, so this one is not so much fun, but work teams DO get sidetracked. Don't let your entire meeting pass with nothing accomplished outside of a brilliant re-hash of last night's "The Bachelor" episode. Maybe this is more fun, but it won't seem worth it when everyone has to come in on Saturday.  Keep the team focused and on-topic.

2. Be the voice of reason. Also, not as much fun as talking about TV, but still very necessary. People will disagree in meetings, this is perfectly normal. If, however, the conversation starts to get ugly it should be stopped. Preferably before someone throws a punch.

3. BEWARE THE BULLY - and don't let it be you.  Make sure everyone has a chance to speak their mind, even if their opinion isn't popular.

4. Be on time. Trust me on this one. No one likes the guy or girl that shows up late to every meeting. It's a sign that you don't respect their time or yours.

5. Take notes. Resolutions that are made within teams often go unfulfilled. Everyone leaves the meeting and forgets what assignments were given to them. Write everything down and update everyone via email after the meeting. This will ensure that no one is left with an excuse for not meeting their objectives.

The mastery of teamwork goes a long way toward building up our professional skills. It also teaches us how tailor our moods and responses to specific situations. These insulated work environments prepare us for uncomfortable client meetings, make us more comfortable speaking to crowds, and help us understand how to compensate for one another's short comings. (Likewise, how to take advantage of our co-worker's skill sets, when possible)

A successful professional life is not something you can achieve without learning how to work with others. Take advantage of these forced social experiments to acquire the skills you will need to go out and make things happen.