Collaboration – Sharpen

Build A Tribe

Our Manifesto says…

‘So you thought you could get to the top alone? YEAH, THAT’S NEVER GOING TO HAPPEN!  A true 3rdNutter knows you just can’t be good at everything.   Gather a team, or forget the dream.’ 

Ambitious, self-motivated leader that you are, there’s a chance you’re a lone wolf who’s gotten along solo up to this point. That’s all about to change. Wherever you’re going, you’ll get there faster with a tribe surrounding you. As we discussed a few weeks ago when we dug into ingenuity, getting a team together can save you time so you can focus more on what you need to do to Earn Yours. It also gives you a built in set of accountability partners, building a powerful synergy that propels that dream of yours forward. Here’s a few steps to take to bring your tribe together.

“The fun for me in collaboration is, one, working with other people just makes you smarter; that’s proven.” – Lin-Manuel Miranda

ACKNOWLEDGE WEAKNESS.

You may be the toughest, most honored 3rdNut of them all, but let’s face it: no one is a badass in every single area of life. The best way to overcome weaknesses? Admit you have them. Then, once you’ve swallowed that truth serum, go about identifying exactly what they are.

There are legions of tests and books on the subject when it comes to personality–Meyers-Briggs, StrengthsFinder, emotional intelligence tests–the list goes on and on. Because you’re brave, you can also ask your friends and family what they see to be your strongest points. By seeking out others whose characteristics complement your own and enlisting them in your tribe, you amplify the amount you’re able to achieve.

MIND THE GAPS.

Beyond personality, there’s another piece of the puzzle that could do with some examination: skill set. If your dream is to construct houses for underprivileged communities, but you aren’t even quite certain how to hold a hammer, then you’re going to need to get some people on your side who can do the building. Pull out the plan you’ve written and think through where you’re going to need skill sets that you don’t have. Then set about securing the people to fill those gaps.

UNITE A CAUSE.

One more way to grow your tribe is to seek out others who are already swimming the same direction in your stream. Find groups in your community or online that share the passion you’re pursuing, and tap into that vein. Of course, as a trailblazer, it may be that your stream doesn’t exist yet (which is why you’re knee deep with a shovel, digging it out). In that case, you’re just going to have to put the word out about what you’re doing.

ACTIONS TO TAKE THIS WEEK.

• Create a recurring appointment in your calendar, just a few minutes each day or week, to invest in your human network.  Carve out a few minutes to check into what your friends are up to and keep your connections strong for when you need them.  Here are some specific ideas that might help:
• Organize a lunch every week or two with a colleague outside of your current employment.  Rotate the invitees so you get to see a number of people and get different perspectives. Practice ACTIVE LISTENING techniques to make the most of your connection.  Ask them what they’ve been up to and what interests them outside of work.  Find out what their passions are and ask them questions that get them to share.  You’ll know you’ve asked the right question when they’re excited to share with you.  Maybe you will have some shared interests where you can collaborate to further your mutual interests.  At first, this may seem like a big commitment, but it will pay off.  Consider after work as an alternative to a lunch meeting.
• Each week, make a list of friends, colleagues or even people you would like to meet and contact them via email, linked in or other appropriate communication channels.  Just say you wanted to see how they were doing and would be interested in hearing about what they were working on in their lives.  Tell them there is no rush in getting back since you realize they are probably very busy.
• Actively think about how you could connect people together who might find shared interests and benefit in connecting.  Make sure you get permission from each party separately before you blindly connect.  Introducing and connecting people is a great way to show that you’re actively thinking about how to help other people and this will often lead to reciprocal behavior that can benefit you.
• Follow people, comment on their posts, write articles and share with the community. Don’t give up after a few weeks if you don’t see a lot of results, it will take time to build up your network.