Recognizing the Remarkable
Ever work on a project where the mission was important, the road was challenging, and after delivering the product you needed a short rest yet looked forward to doing it again?
Sadly, this doesn't happen often enough for most of us.
I was blessed recently with the opportunity to work on a team that delivered something remarkable. As a leader, I find it important to take moments to reflect on accomplishments so I can learn. What follows are my reflections on something we did that was worth remembering.
8 Characteristics that Make Something Remarkable
1) Unifying vision
Before meaningful work begins, our team embodies a compelling vision that not only wins unwavering leadership support, but includes opportunity for each contributor to see how they personally can add value.
2) Building the right team
Our team was assembled for purpose. Team contributors have the skill to do the work and the desire to produce a superior product that people will wait in line to experience.
3) Failure is a possibility
Accomplishing a worthwhile goal should not be without risk. Our goal had the possibility to fail. It didn’t.
Accepting the reality that it might not work and having the tenacity to do it anyway; finding a way to make it work can fuel the team to find creative solutions to unexpected problems.
4) Employing the gifting
Each team member uses their unique talents, skills, and abilities to accomplish the mission. Their gifting weaves itself into the fabric of the product being produced. Each contributor recognizes their unique role to play and are also eager to help other team members.
5) Leadership support
People in authority validate the value of the work through their financial commitment to, promotion of, and presence at the event or during critical milestones.
6) Delighted clients
Our client is delighted with the product delivered because we kept our promise and the team anticipated unspoken needs. Over delivering thrills our clients because it shows them we listened, understood, and are connected to them.
7) Finishing well
When the product has been delivered, those that contributed are both tired yet energized evidenced by team members asking, "when are we going to get to do it again?"
8) Recognition
After the event, when the work is done and the celebration ensues, the names of the contributors are so long that organizers feel like there are too many to read, but they do it anyway.
It is a time where everyone recognizes the value of the person next to them and the group collectively feels their contribution was part of something that touched lives in a meaningful way.
People may forget all the details of the product and what was accomplished on a particular day. They will not soon forget how we made them feel.
Doing work that matters may only win the day, but the feeling they have may last the rest of their lives.
Let's all do our best to do more work that matters!
Actions to consider?
Identify a way you can recognize team members for a job well done.
Take on an assignment where you could fail.
Ask for an opportunity to build a team for a short term project.
