by Susan Leahy, MA, CSP and Freeman Michaels, MA
Cofounders of Group to TEAM Leadership Solutions

In this video blog Susan and Freeman discuss a “choice point” where there are only two options, one invites team and the other perpetuates group.

“Everything you do, say, think or feel is either propelling you further into group or it is elevating you into the experience of TEAM.”

Group

• People naturally organize into groups out of “self-interest”
• In groups, individuals develop allegiances and alliances to protect or promote their individual “self-interest”

TEAM

• TEAM comes from a conscious shift to “shared-interest”
• TEAM comes from deliberate decisions to promote “win/win”
• TEAM relies on a high level of mutual respect, transparency and support

Once we begin to identify the patterns of thinking and behavior that generates those patterns, every choice that we make is either inviting team or perpetuating group. It is that simple. TEAM requires conscious choice, deliberate action, and committed practice. TEAM becomes a shared commitment, where each person on the team regularly asks themselves: “Am I willing to do what it takes to EARN the right to call this a TEAM?”

Saying you are a ‘team’ does NOT make it so

We have all had collaborative moments where we have found ourselves in the powerful “flow” state that comes from openly sharing our ideas and talents with others. Those glimpses, however, are often short lived. Too quickly, we become protective and possessive of our ideas and our contribution. We all want more TEAM in our lives but most of us do not know what it takes to generate and sustain it.

We can ask ourselves the question: “Does what I am thinking, saying or, doing propel me into group or elevate me and those around me to TEAM.”

Group to TEAM Leadership Solutions was founded by Certified Professional Speaker, Susan Leahy MA, CSP and business coach Freeman Michaels MA. Through keynotes, customized live trainings, webinars, on-line training products and consulting services, Group to TEAM Leadership Solutions initiates a deeper conversation about what it takes to build viable, self-sustaining, teams.