Building an Unstoppable Team

Over the past year Paul and I have focused on five fundamental things in helping purpose-driven organizations “get to ZeroMils” and achieve maximum impact on their targets. The one we’ve enjoyed the most — and find ourselves helping every organization with — is building an unstoppable team.?

Sometimes this involves deploying project teams to fill existing gaps due to an unexpected departure of a key leader. Other times we help assimilate new team members. In both scenarios, if those positions remain unfilled the impact of the organization as a whole is under-realized.?

In a few cases ZeroMils has even served as a fractional CDO, COO, or CMO for extended periods of time or for specific campaigns when “surge capabilities” are needed.?

The truth is: good people are hard to come by. Whether a company is classified as “for profit” or “nonprofit,” building a strong team is one of the hardest things leaders must do, because organizations (whatever their classification) share two things in common — revenue must exceed expenses, and growth and impact are strategic imperatives.?

Winning the War for Human Talent

Recruiting and retention have also become increasingly difficult at a time when America is facing a massive skills gap equaling nearly 11.5 million unfilled jobs, and people everywhere are re-examining what they want to do with their lives — both personally and professionally. The “Great Reshuffle” has caused most companies to rethink how they fight and win the war for human talent.?

We see more and more with Millennials and Gen Z-ers that they believe in “working to live” rather than “living to work.” Companies are quickly realizing pay, title, and benefits only go so far. And they are being asked hard questions about what their companies are doing to effect change and social impact, and what flexible work schedules mean beyond “in person” vs “remote” vs “hybrid” work.?

Autonomy = Mutual Trust and Confidence

In our experience, the most important factor in building an unstoppable team comes down to one simple word - Autonomy.?

One of the things we loved most about leading Marines was watching them thrive in a mission-driven environment and seize the initiative at every opportunity. The same can be said for many of the talented men and women who we hired to lead programs at Hiring Our Heroes and Operation Gratitude , as well as the amazing team we are building at ZeroMils.?

Finding autonomous people who are able to make judgments and take actions based on their own experiences, talents, and values isn’t always easy. But when you do, it’s time to sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride.?

Creating a Culture of Autonomy

We’ve identified six principles that are key to building an unstoppable team. Keep in mind: they require buy-in from supervisors and subordinates alike — and understanding from both that creating a culture of autonomy is a two-way street.?

1. Provide clear intent and guidance. If it isn’t clear, ask questions.?
2. Build an environment that values mutual trust, respect, and confidence.? Earn all three with your actions.??
3. Define boundaries (aka left and right lateral limits) and then get out of the way.?
4. Give and Take - initiative, responsibility, and ownership.?
5. Hold yourself accountable. If you’re wrong — admit it, learn from it, and move forward with positive purpose and action.? ?
6. Mistakes are not only OK — they are welcome. Learning from failure breeds success.

These principles can’t just be words on paper. Leaders must act with these basic tenets in mind to build an autonomous, unstoppable team. In leading purpose driven organizations ourselves, we very rarely (if ever) lost a person we valued and wanted to keep — because they lived by those principles, too.?

#Autonomy?#ActionsSpeakLouder