Are you developing your teams to be kit man or a pit crew?

Football kit man manages the kit (clothing & shoes primarily) for football teams and their players. Prior to each match they ensure that the footballers have their kit in top notch condition before each game so that they feel good while going into the game.

 The pit-crew in F1 is the team that stays in pitstop and helps in changing tyres, refuel the F1 car and check if everything OK for driver to drive the car to win the race.

 Both teams are the backend or support teams for the primary teams.

 In case of football, the primary team is of the players that goes on the pitch and tries to give everything and win matches and in case of F1, it’s the driver and car that is on the track to win the race.

As teams, both have a very different impact on the outcome on individual primaries and on result of the game.

In the F1 game that lasts typically for about 120 odd minutes.

The active role of pit crew, in those 120 odd minutes is at best for half a minute. However, a second of difference by pit crew can make the driver win or lose the race despite the best of driving abilities and condition of the car.

What makes pit crew successful is absolute alignment of the member with the mission of the overall formula 1 team i.e., making the team win. Each one understands their role well and wants to create maximum impact together for their team.  The only thing that they have in mind is to make their team win by doing their best in fastest and most efficient manner.

The Football game lasts for about 90 odd minutes the work of Kit man is done before the team steps into the field to play the game and fight to win. So, kit man’s impact on the football game is limited only until the game is started.

Teams in organizations are similar. Not everyone gets a chance to be primary i.e., either step on to the field as a player or get into the car as a driver.

However, the mindset that gets cultivated defines the strategic impact those teams can have on the organization.

As a leader, the vision and aspiration you set in front of the teams defines the thinking the teams would develop as a culture. 

Even if the role is small in grand scheme of things, your aspiration and mentality creates a difference in the team and the way they think of themselves.

Every leader has a choice to cultivate their team and their mentality to be a kit man or a pit crew.  

The difference of how you cultivate your teams lies in the thinking of “aspire to get work done in best manner” vs “aspire to make an impact on the organization”. 

It’s a choice for leaders.

So, what is your choice?

#Innovation #Leadership #Choices #Impact #Everysmallcounts #Workforimpact