The Mystique of the Team

Paul Eder, PhD is a Lead Consultant at The Center for Organizational Excellence, Inc. and the co-author of FIRESTARTERS: How Innovators, Instigators, and Initiators Can Inspire You to Ignite Your Own Life.

Who's on your team? We all play unique roles in the battle to win life's game. Some people are satisfied staying "in their own lane." Others break out of the bubble to make a difference in many ways.

But there's a catch. Resources are limited. We all have a different game, and we all want the best players to be on our team. To help someone else win their game, a person must often sacrifice the chance to score in their own game.

Accordingly, there is only a slim chance your team will get the players it needs. You see - we have to be selective about the time we dedicate to helping others win their games.

Life is a sport. We all bring tools to the team that are necessary to win. Some teams need your tools more than others. Some teams don't deserve your tools. And some teams have the tools you'd rather see suiting up in your jersey.

But you can't have every tool. You can't have everyone care about your game - especially when they view their game as more important. And especially when they are already sacrificing their score for others.

Your team must be the most appealing to attract others to your game. How you create that appeal is the difference-maker. People don't act rationally - but they think they do. So you have to make your team seem like the most rational choice.

Is it?