Teamwork: Success Through Your Support Squad

It is said that hiking is nature’s therapy. It typically offers fresh air, breathtaking views, and a good workout. However, depending on what you set out to achieve, hiking can be extremely hard when you tackle tougher trails and find yourself ascending and descending a mountain. Last weekend I took on the challenging Mount Diablo 4-Peak hike to the summit. The loop is as brutal as it is beautiful, and I was happy for the incredible company of my hiking buddies. To quote Charles Schulz: “In life, it’s not where you go, it’s who you travel with.”

This is definitely true along the career journey. In my experience, the people we travel with can make or break a trip, and the people we work with make our job.?Often, we focus so much on the path to self-actualization and personal accomplishments, we may overlook the power of good teammates. We all perform better with a little help from our friends and colleagues. Sometimes, getting my hiking boots on the trail is all about unplugging and getting some much-needed peace and quiet. But hiking can be a terrific adventure to share with others. On long hikes, I would argue the case for going with a group. Since similar to long-distance hiking, successfully managing a career is a long journey of making choices, taking risks, discovery, and learning, I’d also argue that excelling as a teammate is a better strategy than pursuing the solo hero path. Although working alone might at times be easier, working with others enables us to reach higher levels of expertise and impact much faster than when working on our own. Identifying and nurturing a network of allies on and off the trail can help you thrive and achieve greater, more audacious goals.

Relationships have always been, and will continue to be, the currency of life. Our interpersonal interactions are integral to any success. Thus, being a great team player, working well with people and becoming a Most Valuable Teammate (MVT) is an essential skill for life and work.

5 priceless benefits of teamwork on the trail and in the workplace:

1.?A boost of motivation

Hiking in a group is likely to keep you more motivated and energized even through rough terrain and steep slopes. When you like your hiking crew, you are more likely to go on more adventures, be more consistent, and get further into the wild.

2.?Better resources

When hiking on your own, you have limited capacity to how much you can pack and carry with you. Having a group means more resources at your disposal if things go south and you need a band aid, or a tick kit (assuming you have someone like me in the group who carries these things.) Your hiking buddies can offer a wealth of knowledge and information; e.g., best hiking snacks, apps, gadgets, etc.

3.?Safety in numbers

Some of the most beautiful places are also very remote and secluded. When you get off the beaten path exploring exotic territories and innovative ideas, it’s better to have fellow-explorers with you to watch out for any unknown dangers in your path or unwelcome wildlife encounters.

4.?Greater emotional impact

Our emotional experience is richer when shared with others. Sharing positive experiences with others is typically more enjoyable than solo ones – the more the merrier, twice the giggles, and double the fun. When sharing difficult and painful experiences, it’s good to have fellow travelers to hold on to. Team camaraderie provides comfort, confidence, courage, and capacity. Whether positive or negative, having friends on the journey with you makes it all worthwhile.

5.?Helping hands

On every hike, there are those who struggle on the uphill, those who cry careering downhill (me), those who suffer an injury, and those who simply hit a wall. On a long hike, there’s a time for everything – at times you extend a helping hand, and at times you receive it. No one is always at the giving or receiving end. It is social support that lifts up the receiver and builds up the giver. We grow by experiencing both the gracious giving and the grateful acceptance of assistance. Reciprocal relationships with teammates are a critical source of personal and professional development.

Hiking with a group, or working with others, is rarely a walk in the park. No matter how thrilling the joint adventure, you are still likely to have moments when you feel annoyance, anger, or even boredom. A vital skill on the trail, and in the workplace, is to work positively alongside others; even those you don’t see eye-to-eye with. It’s important to recognize the strengths each team member brings to the table and to find common ground with everyone. Keeping in mind the common goal and the greater good will enable you to work in relative harmony despite differences, and when conflicts happen. Team work is about contributing one’s skills for the benefit of a shared objective. Maintaining team harmony is critical to success. Disagreements are inevitable, and might even be beneficial on the path to new discoveries, but only if managed maturely and with finesse. Creating harmony is the ability to have a respectful debate without causing discord and division.

To be a Most Valuable Teammate (MVT), practice HARMONY:

Honesty: having integrity and being upright in principle and action

Authenticity: having self-awareness and being comfortable in one’s own skin

Reliability: using discretion when making commitments to follow through on promises

Motivation: having a sense of purpose and a drive to contribute, take action, and achieve

Open-mindedness: maintaining perspective and learning to accept instead of expect

Neighborliness: showing concern for others and providing appropriate support

Yayfulness: having an optimistic outlook and attitude generally being in a good mood

10 Ways to work in harmony with others:

1. Take the time to learn about the people you work and interact with.
2. Actively listen to understand the needs and concerns of others.
3. Acknowledge and combat bias your own bias and prejudices
4. Demonstrate respect for others through your words and actions
5. Keep your conversations and interactions positive and constructive
6. Define problems logically and communicate honestly and calmly
7. Communicate tactfully and present well-thought-out ideas
8. Accept responsibility and accountability
9. Share credit for good idea and work
10. Manage conflict and conduct negotiations kindly and in good faith

To build a thriving career, you must invest in your own personal development. However, your relationship capital is just as important. Invest time to build relationships wherever you go, it will prove to be the best investment you will ever make.