Over the last couple of days, our team came together to discuss strategy and planning. This is one of the few times a year that we gather, removing all distractions to reflect deeply on our business plans for the next quarter and the following year, and to enhance our relationships. In some circles, this is known as getting to know the best of each other. Each one of our leaders, like you, is incredibly busy, so I don't take this time for granted.

When I was in my early stages of leadership, I would have chafed at the idea of spending so much time away from "doing the work." How many of you know that if you do the work with your team, all the other work takes care of itself? It’s a leadership secret that we rarely share, yet it’s the most important part of building a winning culture. Culture, as I often remind my team, is the soil out of which all things, both good and bad, grow.

When you, as a leader, are trying to grow and scale, simply doing more and becoming more efficient will not suffice. Now, don’t get me wrong, you must always do what is in your control to advance personally, advance the business, or achieve a strategic goal. What I am saying is that I learned some time ago that the "personal efficiency principle" many of us align with is limited by our capacity and resources, often leading to diminishing returns despite increased effort. This is why I talk so much about faith and leaning on God, and it's also why I emphasize the power of teams. You can't achieve what you need to in this world by yourself. Stated differently, you will leave so much undone and unachieved if you don’t work well in and on your teams.

When we work to optimize teams, we see the contrast from the individual, you and I, being optimized. When we do this, we see the power of network effects. The network effect amplifies the collective impact of a team, where each member’s contribution enhances the overall productivity and innovation of the group. While the term "collective impact" has been co-opted in the last 20 years, I prefer to think of the extraordinary achievements and contributions to the lives of others we make as a team when we co-labor. Did you catch that? Co-labor? To co-labor means we are all bringing our gifts and one plus one does not equal two. Why is this the case? It's synergy. What do I mean? It's network effects. The synergy within our team creates a powerful network effect, where our combined efforts and collaborative spirit amplify our overall productivity and innovation. These results are almost always outcomes that cannot be achieved alone. Why the redundancy? So you get the message!

Final Thought

Ultimately, the strength of our team lies in our ability to come together, support one another, and leverage our collective talents. By prioritizing our relationships and working in unison, we not only achieve our strategic goals but also cultivate a thriving culture that fosters innovation, resilience, and shared success. Let us continue to embrace you and I doing what is in our control to do to grow and the power of collaboration, knowing that together, we can accomplish what none of us can achieve alone.