If you want to go fast - go alone.... but if you want to go far - well then - you have to go as a team.
We pulled away from the office on Friday morning - early - way too early for my liking. And despite the early hour, the team was laughing and clearly eager to begin our day of team building exercises in Naivasha. The trip was 2 days at the resort area where we would combine classroom instruction and activities with the goal of bringing us even closer together.
As the wheels on our bus went round and round I thought of how lucky I am to be a part of this unique and special team. To a person, they are respectful of one another, unfailingly committed to our goals and possess a warmth of character that I have not previously come across in my travels. I have had the honor of managing teams in the past (with varying levels of success I might add) but I have to say from my experience to date, that the willingness to be part of a team is an essential ingredient. This is truly a team that requires the manager to clear the way ..... then get out of the way so they can get shit done! Introducing the amazing team that runs The Mighty KSU!!
Listening carefully in the picture above, teams Super Simba (white ribbon) and Panda (Red Ribbon) receive instructions for the next activity. The task was tricky. All team players had to pass through the hoops but the bottom hoops could not be used and only 2 members could go through the second level hoops. It was remarkable how quickly the teams figured out the best strategy and executed. Team Super Simba celebrates below after completing one of the tasks before Team Panda. The enthusiasm was as exuberant as it was contagious.
I've been leading teams for a number of years now and am honored to have been chosen for the responsibility both here and previously. It's always been my firm belief that a leader's responsibility is to serve and those who manage least, manage best. Set the goals and then let the team do it's work. In these games as in the office, leadership came from throughout.... not just supervisors. It comes from people's competencies and interest in helping the team reach their goals.
Communication is key!!!
And so along with encouraging each team member to define their work, achieve self- mastery of their tasks and satisfy their needs for increasing responsibility is the importance of authentic and respectful dialogue.
Respectful and challenging communication with your colleagues....
Respect for the need to hold one another accountable
Respect for the organization itself
Respect for the agreed upon goals
Respect for yourself ....
And so what is a team? Vince Lombardi said it well....
"Individual commitment to a group effort--that is what makes a team work, a company work, a society work, a civilization work." --Vince Lombardi
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| Caro always smiling |
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| Mercy always smiling |
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| Henry - always smiling |
Tilapia - the chicken of fish!
My
friend Florence was good enough to cook me an authentic East African
delicacy - Tilapia with all the trimmings. Easily one of the most
favorite dishes in East Africa, it is available fresh and delicious
throughout Kenya. One of the big three fish of biblical times, it is has
been a staple in diet throughout the world wherever in fact Cichlids
can survive. That happens to be almost anywhere where the water is
warm. Because
they will eat plant material (less harmful discharged), they can be
grown in more crowed environments. Also - because they're vegetarians,
they don't accumulate mercury or fat. Add to that their fast growth and
tastiness and it's close to the perfect food. It reminds me of red
snapper - white slightly firm meat - it's perfect with Tomato and
peppers and a squish of lime. In a tidy mound above is mashed potato
with fresh coriander. All in all.....a perfect feast!
Thanks for reading - Layno
