Team Code of Honour

2 weeks ago, I run my 10th workshop on creating a TEAM CODE of HONOUR. My team said: "you should package it up & sell it". Indeed it may be the most valuable 2 hours, we could have ever spent as a team. This is the foundation of any high performing team. Any team you've ever enjoyed being part of, that challenged you - but you know it made you better, had one. The elements of a Championship team, come down to their unwritten rules that you follow consistently (or do not dare to break). Corporations talk about their cultures... but YOU & I know that their values are a distant dream compared to their real behaviours on the ground / office.

So what is a Code of Honour? "A set of rules the team agreeds not to break & are willing to be TOLD when we break them". No excuses, just truth. No crying babies & sympathy stories. No entitlement to special treatment because life has been tough on you. Personal Responsibility is at the core of this. But Personal Responsibility is too subjective, unless you're ACCOUNTABLE (i.e. your team has permission to TELL you, when your behaviour is substandard). Discipline standards vary individually. But for a team to outperform you need a commonly agreed challenging high standard. No different interpretations per person.

All of my businesses have a Code of Honour. Because we cannot afford to not have rules, when we all run so many projects concurrently. I even got my group courses to sign & stick to a Code of Honour. We all broke the rules (incl. myself). And we needed to have a few uncomfortable conversations. And we remained open & courageous. And then, things worked out smoothly. Everyone was on time, we were able to share our truth with good intention, we were able to chase deadlines without people getting offended. No one blamed others behind their backs.

No one likes rules (myself included) but try to live in a society, let alone work in a team or family, without rules... That is a sure recipe for disaster, suffering, drama & power struggles. The choice is yours. I am zen, because I know my trusted people will tell me (without hesitation) when I am substandard. I will not like it, but the intention is to make me better. And where else would I (rather) get that from?