One of the concepts we include in our Leading Yourself and Leading Others Experience is “synergy” where 1+1=5. In other words, the whole is greater than the sum of the parts.
What this means is that when you have a high performing team you can create magic. You can achieve far more with your team than what you could by adding up individual efforts.
Here’s why this is relevant.
I am so grateful to Kellie O’Brien and Chrystie Hile who jumped on board to create a team with me to get my book published and launched.
I couldn’t have done it without them.
None of us really knew what we were doing. We learned as we went along.
In fact, all of us were quite nervous and anxious before the launch.
Chrystie was anxious that when the book was printed it would look good and the formatting was correct. Chrystie is our graphic designer and taught herself how to typeset and format the book for the printer we had chosen.
Kellie was anxious that the book would actually be printed on time. We hadn’t used the printer before and there had been some mixed reviews about timeframes for delivery, and of course, we were on a very short deadline.
I was anxious about how the book would be received. Had I included enough information? Was it interesting? Was it helpful? What would people say?
Now on the other side, we have systems and processes in place, ready for the next one (on People and Leadership). It will be so much easier and quicker (once I write the first draft).
Kellie will edit. Chrystie will design, format and typeset and Kellie and I will hold hands again, (virtually) as we press the “Go” button to order the first copy.
Looking back now, even though we didn’t know what we were doing, that didn’t stop us.
Some personality profiles need to know “how” before they get started. Others need to have a plan, whilst my personality type is happy to figure it out as we go and the fourth personality type will delegate and tell us all the outcome we’re aiming for.
When you want to achieve something, it doesn’t matter if you don’t know what you’re doing because you learn as you go. In fact, Aristotle’s words ring true for me, something along the lines of “the things we think we need to know how to do before doing, we learn by doing” or as another mentor of mine, Lisa Sasevich says, “build the plane as you fly it”.
I’m very proud of the book and I am so grateful to the team effort, including Lee Woodward from Realtair for helping to distribute the book and giving us deadline. I’m also grateful to Kip McGrath for the foreword and to Mark Kentwell for his words of praise along with words from a couple of my other fabulous clients.
We didn’t know what we were doing and yet we achieved something far greater than we could have individually.
What is something you want to achieve that you think you have to know how to do before you get started or you think you have to do on your own?
I encourage you, just get started and enlist the help of a team. Please do let me know what it is. Use that as a little bit of accountability for yourself.
When you get to the end, you’ll not only have achieved your goal, you will have learned somethings along the way and also shared the journey with some great team mates.
P.S. If you’re interested to learn my 4 step process for streamlining your business, or you’ve found yourself in the second-in-command position at work, you might find the information in the book helpful. Order your copy here, https://shirleydalton.com/books
P.P.S Dates for our next Leading Yourself and Leading Others experience have been set for May in Newcastle, NSW. Tuesday 3rd May, Thursdays 12th, 19th and 26th May. For more information go to https://shirleydalton.com/leading-yourself-leading-others-may2020/
P.P.P.S. Invite your friends to get the Weekly Thoughts delivered directly to their inbox. Go to https://shirleydalton.com/weekly-thoughts.
