Mastery Monday – Teamwork Makes the Dreamwork

That’s a buzz phrase we hear often but in order to get a win win result, you need to have a great team.

I was part of and led many high performing teams in the military where the stakes were high. If you failed, the mission could fail.

Unfortunately that mindset doesn’t occur in many businesses today. The one’s that do work from a high performing team structure succeed and if they fail, they regroup to use it as feedback to improve.

There’s a Denny’s restaurant not far from my home. I like the “Fit Fare” breakfast skillet there. I’ve been to several different Denny’s restaurants and never experienced a high performing team environment until I visited the one by my house.

The place is usually packed and as soon as you walk in the door, you are greeted by one or two people. Someone immediately shows you to a table and shortly a server shows up to get your order. They are always cheerful, professional and helpful.

You place your drink order and they come right back with the drinks and ask if you are ready to order. They take your order and the food comes out hot, fresh and you have everything you need to eat your meal. They check back often.

This is standard restaurant management but this Denny’s does it in a way that you feel valued as a customer, happy to be there and they want you to return. The attitude of everyone that works there is happy, customer focused and empowering. I have never met a miserable server there acting like they are doing you a favor by serving you.

The only way this is possible is because of the management. They are good leaders who hire people who want to work and expect them to act like a professional and make the customer experience a good one. They lead by example and make this a place you want to come back to.

We should all be leaders like this. Even if you aren’t in management, you have to lead yourself first in order to be an example of how those around you should react.

Proverbs 10:10-15 has some great advice on leadership – 10 A good leader motivates, doesn’t mislead, doesn’t exploit. 11 God cares about honesty in the workplace; your business is his business. 12 Good leaders abhor wrongdoing of all kinds; sound leadership has a moral foundation. 13 Good leaders cultivate honest speech; they love advisers who tell them the truth. 14 An intemperate leader wreaks havoc in lives; you’re smart to stay clear of someone like that. 15 Good-tempered leaders invigorate lives; they’re like spring rain and sunshine.

Lead by example, have a good work ethic and show up motivated to go up in life.