Teamership - A different kind of Butterfly Effect

Being a great team member is a complex and dynamic challenge that is simple, but not easy.

The simple part is that all being a great team member takes is to bring our best and bringing out the best in others. The hard bit is doing it! Just like a marathon is simple (run from Point A to Point B), nobody would suggest it’s easy!

There are times when we are bringing out the best in others, but not bringing our own best efforts at the same time. When this happens, we are?Butterflies.

I write this with apologies to butterflies and butterfly enthusiasts (I am sure that I am downplaying their contribution to ecosystems). Indeed, according to the?butterfly effect, butterflies can have profound impacts over time and space. That’s not what I’m talking about in this instance.

For humans, butterflies are mostly an enjoyable distraction, something that can take our attention away from our current tasks and remind us of pretty cool things that are a part of nature. While it's nice to have the occasional distraction, being that distraction for an extended or consistent period of time can mean that we are pleasant to be around without realising the full potential of their impact on our teams.

It is for this reason that identifying butterfly behaviour in ourselves and others can be a real challenge. It’s not the unpleasant experience of holding others back or being held back. It’s a generally positive experience for all concerned and yet, it’s not enough to deliver great performances in teams.

In a work context, a butterfly is a person that takes notes in the meetings - without asking the questions, sharing the insights and making the suggestions that tap into the skills and experience they could be bringing to the team. The meeting notes are a great contribution, but they’re holding other contributions back.

We all do versions of this at times. It’s rarely deliberate and it’s a great opportunity for us as individuals, leaders and teams to tap into this.

The fact that people are wanting to contribute to their teams is a huge asset. Most often, we are holding back inadvertently as some sort of protection mechanism. Maybe we don’t think our ideas are good. Maybe we are afraid of looking like we don’t know. Maybe we don’t want to commit to something right at the edge of our comfort zone.

For this week, here are a few questions to consider:

1. Do you ever inadvertently hide your best work?
2. What would help you to be more bold in your contributions to your team?
3. How would your best efforts amplify your teams' performance?

Go well,?

Keegan