You know the saying about “when the going gets tough…..” and the sentence is often completed with some statement like “everybody goes shopping” or everybody makes margaritas.”

So, what happens in the workplace when there is a rough patch? Do employees shop or sip or roll up their sleeves to help each other? In the best of all possible worlds, they help each other. Or they could if they had the right road map.

In Total Leadership Connections, a leadership program that absolutely puts the spotlight on interactions between individuals rather than on just how specific individuals respond, the point is driven home with snippets from the film “Cool Running” used to point out the power of teammates who have weathered tough times and redefined success.

The movie is based on the true story of the first Jamaican bobsled team that competed in the winter Olympics in Canada. Just saying Jamaican and bobsled together is a paradox. In any case, there were four real, honest to goodness men from that warm, tropical fruit and luscious sun island who donned gloves, hats and thermal suits to go as fast as they could down a snowy incline.

It is a film worth watching, and is great also for high school teams’ learning about real success. We once used this for an intact team of engineers and when the lights went back on many an analytical male in the group was seen wiping tears away.

What makes this so powerful? It is that you can see clearly the transitions that a group of disconnected individuals goes through to really become a functioning unit. Here are the stages from “me” to “we” that make a difference.

1. Forming: Getting to know phase; even if many have been together for a period of time, even one new person means beginning the forming stage all over again; it is about welcoming, and finding out if the skills are there; not yet ready to test the strength of the individuals in the unit.

2. Storming: This is where everyone slides into the chasm of chaos; tempers are short and trust is low; there are no solid rules and many are “rowing in opposite directions.”

3. Norming: New regrouping before it all truly falls apart forever; decisions are made to get everyone facing in the same direction; agreements happen that force some to give up absolute points of view for the good of the team.

4. Performing: This is when there is a sense of “can do” in the air; projects get done quickly and easier and there is a positive feeling where most help each other and there are short cuts in knowing what is needed and how to achieve success.

5. Transforming: This is rarely discussed; most models of team excellence end with performing; however, there is always a time when “something happens”, be it a hurricane, an oil spill, an economic downturn, or fierce competition that was unexpected; this is when knowing oneself and each other makes all the difference.

In “Cool Running” there is an incident; I don’t want to spoil the film for you. When the issue occurs you see what power there is having gone through the cycle of deepening, learning what really matters, learning to stick together against all odds.

Teamwork does not ever really come together without learning real conflict resolution skills; that means telling the truth without blame or judgment, acknowledging each other and showing appreciation, and extending a hand no matter how tired or fearful you feel inside.

Those that have watched the film have told our facilitators it has helped them through awful times and strengthened the resolve of their teams to make it happen no matter what.

Author Bio: Dr. Sylvia Lafair, Author, Leadership Educator, Executive Coach for over 30 years is an authority on leadership and workplace relationships. She is President of Creative Energy Options, Inc. Visit www.ceoptions.com and www.sylvialafair.com .

Category: Business Management
Keywords: Teamwork, Forming, Transforming, Cool Runnings, Group