Leadership Success: The Importance of Your A-Team
Recently, 64-year-old endurance swimmer Diane Nyad conquered the 110-mile passage from Cuba to Florida that had hounded her for 35 years. This was her fifth attempt. Even though she failed four other times, she still believed in her goal and was determined to succeed. And this is precisely why she did.
When Nyad emerged victorious, after 53 hours in the treacherous Florida Straits full of jellyfish, sharks, and dangerous weather, she paused to share the following:
I have three messages:
- We should never, ever give up.
- You are never too old to chase your dreams.
- It looks like a solitary sport, but it takes a team.
Like so many other extraordinary women, Nyad's success was built on her failures. She first began her journey to conquer this particular passage when she was 28 years old. Over the ensuing years and after each attempt, she would regroup, reassess, and apply her learning to improve the plan to conquer. And in her learning, she realized that a large part of her impending success depended upon team. Here is a picture Nyad swimming, surrounded by the fabulous team that helped her succeed:
The fact is, great professionals don't get there all by themselves. In my work with exceptional women, one thing has become clear: you can have the talent, the plan, and the grit to succeed – but unless you realize the importance of surrounding yourself with the right kind of people in critical roles, your efforts will go to waste.
"It's not just naïve, but also foolish to think that just one individual is capable of running a large organization on their own," says Richard Branson, founder of the Virgin Group, and chief influencer in the global marketplace. When one examines Branson's success, it's fair to say that this philosophy works. He selects not only for the right skills and experience, but also for the right mix of individuals as he fosters the right spirit. And it pays off. And the fact is, this approach frees Branson to be – well, the best Branson he can be! Take stock of your own A-Team, and decide to close the gaps in order to accelerate your success. What is working well? What is not working well, or could work better? What specific steps do you, as leader, need to take, in order to make your team a "10"?
To your success!
Patti Cotton is an executive coach, fundraiser, author, speaker, and advocate of women's and children's issues. She serves as thought partner and personal strategist to leadership and social entrepreneurs in charge of change, supporting dynamic development of leadership skills to make greater impact. Her international leadership experience of 25+ years includes roles in both the profit and not-for profit worlds.
