Nested

Have you ever seen those neat Russian dolls that nest, one within the other? You open the top of one doll and another is right there to greet you, and so on and so on until you’ve got maybe ten or more little Russian dolls.

Here’s a concept I’m trying to work out for the Re-VISION of BTL’s Core Purpose:
All leaders want exceptional performance from their teams. I’ve never met a true leader who didn’t.

How do you get exceptional performance? Is there a key? A secret code?
I’m not sure, and I’d like to ask for your help. Here’s what I think, based on experience and a lot of study.

Teams break through to exceptional performance when the LOVE each other. They will never come to love each other unless they come to TRUST each other, and they will never come to trust each other unless they come to KNOW each other. By that I mean know a lot about each other, not just the surface image we all project at work. All three are “nested” within each other.

How do they come to know each other like that? The LEADER goes first, and takes seriously the twin ideas of SELF-KNOWLEDGE and HUMILITY. (i.e., gets real with the team on that kind of level).

Then the leader structures team exercises to work together on solving problems in such a way as to allow the team to discover greater self-knowledge individually, and other-knowledge together. If that process is guided effectively, CHEMISTRY results. No one wants anyone to fail; all will sacrifice for the good of each.

Finally, I think another key to exceptional performance lies within individuals: do they want to MASTER the art of a great life? “LIFE” as in learning, laughing, leading, loving, lending a hand, leaving a legacy? Or will they settle for long, slow death? “DEATH” as in distracted, depressed, drunk, drugged, driven, and dull? 

Are these are the keys to exceptional collective performance? Individuals awake and aware, teams full of trust and love, and leaders going first and serving the team with guidance to something like this…

I’m not sure.

What do you think?