AMBITION 

Everyone wants a north star. A goal to progress to. A mission to accomplish. A reason to exist beyond the ordinary. What is it for you and your team ? why are you here ? what do you seek to accomplish ? is it a daring bold goal that energizes everyone.  Your job is to think of these questions and articulate your and your team’s ambition

To be the fastest growing team in your company

To launch a great product before the end of the year

To serve xyz number of customers in the next few years

To change the way something is done

To develop the lowest cost or most eco friendly range

Define it, share with your teams, ask for feedback, firm it up and then go all out.

Start every meeting by reminding everyone why are we here.

When we are faced with challenges look up to the mission statement and check in whether we are on track or not. When facing failure look up again on the reason why we must get up and get going again.

All progress in history is the result of ambition set out clearly by leaders.

COLLABORATION

The Sum is greater than the whole. F1 teams can record pit stop changeovers in 8 seconds or less because everyone is working together onto one goal. How do you foster collaboration.

Make it clear that you will judge everyone in the team on how well they collaborate

Design project teams where different functions and units have to work together. 

Give team awards and recognize everyone on the team who contributed.

Organize listening sessions where teams listen to feedback from each other. Just make notes.

When there are conflicts bring the different people together to arbitrate the solution. Find the win win sweet spot by making them listen to each other.

Always ask – how well are we collaborating ?