The book Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown is an incredible story of nine young Americans and their quest to win a gold medal in Men’s Rowing at the 1936 Berlin Olympics.
After 355 intriguing pages, the morale of the story was …Teamwork! When every person on the boat was totally focused on the goal, completely trusted each other to do their job, and wanted to win for their teammates as much as themselves, success was bound to happen. And it did!
Whether participating in team sporting events or running a business, the rules of teamwork, when applied, have the same effect. If everyone’s on the same boat, so to speak, the outcome should be successful. If they’re not, like a boat, the business will sway, veer, and never be on a straight course, therefore, achieving your goals will prove to be very difficult.
A business owner or manager is like the coxswain on a rowing team. It’s his or her job to keep the team in perfect timing, to navigate and steer the boat, and to motivate the team with words of encouragement. The employees are doing the work, grinding away each day, but, if not for a strong leader, the business will sway, veer, and never be on a straight course.
Are your employees showing up each day wanting to do the best job they can possibly can? Do they trust their co-workers, and understand and believe that if they help them succeed, they will succeed as well? If not, start motivating them!
Hiring good people is only the beginning of building a great team. Keeping them motivated, focused, and ready to work each day is what will help you get to the finish line!