Coffee, Cooperation, Teamwork & The Coffee Bar.

It occurred to me this morning as I was at Peets Coffee by my home, that there is a certain teamwork that occurs once you get your beverage.  Typically, if you order a regular coffee (and don't drink it black), you will head over to the bar.  At this bar, there are various types of cream, sweeteners, lids etc.  If you are like me, and order a high maintenance latte (Large Iced Vanilla Latte with coconut cream) you will also subsequently head over to the coffee bar to get your lid and straw.

The teamwork begins as people begin the ritual of fixing their coffee. I almost always start to reach for sweetener, and someone almost always just asks me which one and hands it to me.  Inevitably, someone will need a stirrer and I will pass it to them.  There can be anywhere from 4-6 people all working together on one master goal - getting their morning cup of coffee just right.

This morning I happened to be particularly present as I was seated next to the coffee bar.  I sipped my coffee and watched the coffee bar for 20 minutes- during that time more than 30 people came to fix their coffee. 

Each person was helping one another to accomplish their task and goal.

If only this teamwork and cooperation occurred in business on a daily basis.   Often, in strategy I find that teams lack the cooperation and communication to facilitate dialogue to get to their end goal.  People make assumptions but no one is actually communicating.  It's clear that at the coffee bar- everyone really has concrete goals.

1. Each person needs to make their coffee in the way that suits them.  (Sugar, Creamer, Honey, Sweetener, etc.)
2. Each person knows that the person next to them has the same goal.
3. Everyone is aware that time is of the essence as everyone is headed to work and as such everyone moves at a rapid tempo.

Imagine what the workplace would be like if:

• Each team member knew exactly what the master goal was.
• Every person involved was committed to each others success.
• Each person knew that by helping their teammate, they were helping themselves.

Food for thought on this Friday before Memorial Day.  Don't believe me? The next time you are at a coffee place, take a step back and observe.  There is plenty of teamwork to be seen.

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Maresa Friedman founded The Executive Cat Herder after running Operations, Business Performance Management & Market Development for Halo Business Intelligence, a global analytics firm. She specializes in creating high impact changes with simple execution strategies. LinkedIn has named Friedman in the top 1 percent for Social Selling in the technology industry. Most recently, the San Diego Business Journal named Friedman as a finalist for the Most Admired CEO's in 2017. She was also named as San Diego Metro's 40 under 40 and the San Diego Business Journals Women Who Mean Business. Closing out 2016, LinkedIn Profinder named Friedman, Best of Strategy Consultants. She was also a judge for the Business Intelligence Stratus Awards and is currently a contributor to the Innovation Enterprise a platform connecting leaders from startups to Fortune 500 companies. She is currently the San Diego Ambassador for Wix Inc and among her goals for 2017, she hopes to help 50 entrepreneurs setup their websites using the DIY platform. She writes for the Chief Strategy Officer, Chief Data Officer and CFO channels. She is also on the board for the San Diego Civic Youth Ballet emphasizing in Strategic Planning during her 3 year term. 

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