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I've been working for almost 50 years.
Done really interesting, challenging and rewarding jobs - and some - let's say forgettable jobs.
Worked with Olympic and professional athletes and coaches. Travelled the world with sporting teams.
Cleaned toilets and facilities at gyms.
Scooped p^&p out of swimming pools.
Cooked and swept up trash at McDonalds.
Had a job working for an insurance company where for six months all I did was lick envelopes and fold insurance renewals to go inside them.
And everything in between.
But only three times in that working journey of half a century can I say I was part of a connected, cohesive, high-functioning team who worked together selflessly and honestly — and as a result achieved remarkable things.
Three times. In 50 years.
Finding a team of people who truly "get" what being part of a team is all about is one of the most satisfying, rewarding and memorable experiences you will ever encounter.
When I reflect on a lifetime of work — the one thing that stands out above all else are those few precious times when I got to be part of something special with similarly driven, committed, dedicated, caring people.
If you find it — grab it with both hands and don't let it go.
Because it is a lot rarer than you may believe.
I'd love to hear from you. When have you been part of a truly brilliant team?
Building exceptional teams is one of my greatest passions. I wrote about it in Leading Without Leading — a book about how real leadership isn't about telling people what to do. It's about creating the conditions where great teams emerge.
