Teamwork Starts With You!

Since birth we have had opportunities to be a part of a team whether that team was your immediate family, a sports team, a work team, or a classroom team. We are given numerous opportunities throughout life to work in teams and to learn how to build strong working relationships. Some of us tend to embrace these team opportunities while others run as though we are being chased by a swarm of bees.

Teamwork in the workplace offers employees the opportunity to become more familiar with one another. True teams learn to rely on each other, communicate well with one another, and create mutual accountability.

Last month I was approached by colleagues at the City of Rancho Cordova to join a team to help support the California Capital Airshow in Rancho Cordova, CA. Without knowing the details, I asked for the dates/times to make sure I was available to help and said “yes” because I wanted to help and support my coworkers.

Saying “yes” to the “opportunity” to join this team meant:

• Working Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. (As a volunteer, this was a labor of service.)
• Getting up at 4:30 a.m. and working until 5:30 p.m. (4:30 a.m.?  You’ve got to be kidding!)
• Standing in the direct summer California heat ALL DAY with NO AC to help performers, sponsors, Airshow Board Members and staff, exhibitors, veterans, observers, volunteers, and one another in so many different ways.
• Wearing a logoed shirt. (This gal is NOT a huge fan of anything uniform related.)
• Wearing and using a radio to communicate with numerous Airshow support staff.
• Working nearly 18 days straight because the previous holiday weekend I was at a strategic planning session for a board that I serve on.

I could have come up with several good reasons not to join this team, but I didn’t because jumping in to support my coworkers is important to me. Assisting the California Capital Airshow with my colleagues Liisa, Mindy, and Stacy was a blast and certainly a highlight of September 2014!

Oprah Winfrey once said, “Lots of people want to ride with you in the limo, but what you want is someone who will take the bus with you when the limo breaks down.” I will tell you what…Liisa, Mindy, and Stacy would take that bus ride with me, and we would have the best time ever!

Let’s be mindful to not be so quick to say “No!” to opportunities to join teams that could have a lasting memory and a positive result.

To my coworkers and fellow Airshow Hut gals: Mindy, Stacy, and Liisa YOU ROCK! I’ll serve with you on a team any day!