I have always been a passionate supporter of teamwork – be it in sport, family or business.
My addiction to teamwork started when I was about 6 years old. I was made Captain of my infant school football team and my teammates were generally older then me. Despite being so young, I was able to push us to work together and win every game (this is when I also realised that I was going to be obsessed with winning).
It worked and I went on to captain every sports team that I played in – be it football, basketball or cricket, right up until the age of 26 when a bad injury cut my football career dead. I loved leading by example, leading from the front, galvanising my teammates. I really encouraged them to show total commitment to the “common cause” of playing the game in the right spirit, but winning at all costs!
A great recent illustration of great teamwork in sport is the Man vs Fat initiative. Regionally, scores of obese men met to play football and embarked on a weight loss programme. Their team forfeited points if any member didn’t stick to the diet and turned up to play every week. Not wanting to let their teammates down motivated the group to lose 30 tons in weight in only 12 months! This is a very powerful example of the importance of feeling part of a team and the motivation it can give respective members to deliver an incredible result.
From my learnings in sport, I created a highly inclusive/team work-orientated management style that was centred on the fact that teamwork is a vital and powerful ingredient for any successful business.
It works.
It is important that egos are parked and every member of the team feels equally important and recognised. Each must feel that they are trained, educated and motivated to work to the very highest of standards.
I thrive on seeing the team prosper collectively – all for one and one for all.
This approach also includes the team being totally focused on delivering the highest level of customer service, driven by their desire to not let their colleagues or customers down.
I see this being played out every day at My Home Move. Every individual pulls together to deliver the best service possible to clients and to introducers. It’s not one team coming together, but every team across the business, that makes it possible to help as many people that we do, with the quality that we do. The culture and commitment to giving their best is a perfect fit for me – I think it could be for you too.