The Rules of the Game
Whether you are an introvert or an extrovert, in operation or sales, new on the job or a veteran we all depend and count on others. The cold, hard reality of being human is that we do better when we collaborate and cooperate rather than going it alone.
In fact, historians now believe that Neanderthals became extinct while Homo-sapiens flourished because they didn’t work together, sharing information with fellow tribes. So how can we be happy together and of course get stellar results? Through all generations of time man has had rules – often unwritten, not formalized – but they’re all the same. Participate and you will fit in and share the spoils or break the rules and be austersized from the tribe. Don’t get me wrong here, I am not saying conform at all costs. What I am saying is be aware whether at work or at play there are rules that govern and interestingly enough those rules are pretty much the same. Consider the following:
Rule #1 – Have a common goal, focus or purpose. What is it you are trying to achieve? Make sure you know it as the leader and you can effectively communicate it to inspire those that are part of your game.
Rule #2 – Work your Strengths. Know who is good at what and help them get even better. Period. Why try to put a square peg in a round hole?
Rule #3 – Find or create the right environment. Yes, perhaps you may be able to do what you want anywhere however certain spaces, tools and supplies make it easier to get the job done. Find the right mix and revisit it often to make sure it continues to promote the desired behaviour, getting you where you need to go quicker with less frustration.
Rule #4 – Keep track of your actions and results. You can’t manage what you don’t measure. Know if you are winning or losing at all times (your results or goal) and track your actions (the things you have committed to doing to achieve your goal) and display them for all of the world to see, or at the very least the people that matter.
As human beings we love games, hence the reason gamification is getting traction as a must have motivator. Designing your rules of play doesn’t need to be complex or cumbersome, time consuming or grueling and most importantly you don’t have to go it alone. Engage your team in building your winning team structure and you’ll all enjoy the journey as well as the fruits of your labour.
