At a recent professional meeting, the leader (a really strong leader that is transforming a district I'm working with) asked the question “What qualifies you to be in this room?” Every member in the meeting got up and tried to verbalize what their purpose for being in the room was. I thought back to my coaching days and the locker room. The locker room is a special place to a football team. The only qualification we ever had for entry to the team and locker room was the commitment to the team’s success. If you were totally committed and willing to contribute to the team’s success, you were in and you stayed in as long as you continued the commitment. It wasn’t about race, height, weight, skill, level of play, or any other factor other than a true commitment to the team and being willing to contribute the most they could to helping the team be successful. Some of the most important members of the team didn’t necessarily paly the most minutes or snaps on the field on Friday, but they were so committed that they understood their contribution was to prepare the starters for Friday nights and prepared themselves to be ready to go into the game if called upon. There was also an exit door to the locker room. We never kicked anyone out of the locker room, but they chose to remove themselves for various reasons and various ways they showed the team they were not committed to the common good and success of the team. It’s powerful when everyone in the organization or team is committed to a singular goal of the team’s success. In the old NY Giants' stadium there was a sign leading to the locker room that said "Losers assemble in small groups and complain abut the coaches and other players. Winners assemble as a TEAM and find ways to WIN!" In short, one team and one goal.
So the question or thought for reflection of the day is simply “What qualifies you to be in this room?” What is your commitment to this team? Have you done everything you can and are you willing to do whatever it takes for the team to be successful? Are you committed to “One Team, One Goal”?
