What This "Big Gulp" Container Taught Me About Leadership and Team Culture

I've been part of some teams - past and present. I've seen some thrive and I have seen some dwindle away and I have seen a team like no other, grow and take on an almost magical, contagious, positive personality.

Team culture - that's what it is and it's more important than you think.

Some time in 2015 I was blessed to be added to a mastermind group with an amazing group of Internet marketers and heart-centred entrepreneurs led by Laura Parrish. She called her group Team No Sleep- and often she doesn't as the name suggests. What happened in the last few sessions of a regular team mastermind online was interesting, to say the least and it got me really thinking about Team Culture and Leadership.

You see, Laura has this huge jug… nothing fancy … just a huge “7-11 Big Gulp” jug that she fills with her drink of choice, Diet Pepsi, that is by her side while she works and during the masterminds.

Laura simply mentioned her jug and showed it to us on a mastermind. She didn't tell anyone to buy it. She didn't say that this was a prerequisite to being in the group. She smiled, told us how she fills her jug everyday…jokingly calling it her “crackbucket” ... and then… what happened next was crazy.

Pictures showed up on Facebook with her team members buying the infamous 711 Big Gulp jug.

Members messaging each other on where to get one in the U.S and in Canada.

Members offering to ship them out to each other.

Hmmm? What was happening here?

Was buying one of these going to make us better Internet marketers? (don't think so)

Laura never told anyone to buy one.

Many of us professed that we aren't fans of pop anyway. (And frankly, the jug is a little tacky.)

What happened is that a leader created something called Team Culture and she did it by way of great leadership.

Why is team culture and great leadership so important?

Truth is, people want to be part of something. Plain and simple.

Inside jokes, team t-shirts, inner circles create a sort of unity, camaraderie amongst people. When a good leader makes a team atmosphere appealing and worth sticking around for, team culture is created.

Creating culture means creating an experience. Individuals feel like they have something in common - a special bond, something similar that they can identify with.

The team t-shirts or the “Big Gulp” containers are more than just merchandise. They are part of strengthening an identity and spirit. They inspire creativity.

Great leaders do a great job at being supportive and accessible. They motivate and they inspire. They keep you accountable and they keep you coming back for more. By doing this they create comfort, trust, communication, improved morale. People have fun and they enjoy work more!

Team Culture is important in any business.

Similarly, I am also lucky to be a part of an amazing team at a Mortgage Brokerage. I and my colleagues also have a team culture that was created by a committed leader.

As mortgage agents, we have our own personal goals we work towards, yet as a team, even though we do not benefit from another mortgage agent reaching their goals, we are constantly cheering each other.

It's not about the money.

We are excited when someone else does well. We are excited when we are able to help clients. We help each other. We give each other ideas. We learn from each other. Negativity has no place in our office. We have fun and we get things done. We are certainly more productive because of it. This was created because of teamwork and culture created by the Broker, our friend and leader.

Do you want to become a leader or be part of an amazing team? (Perhaps here on #Steemit )
Here's what leaders do that you need to keep in mind:

1. Leaders are accessible and approachable. They don't disappear after they have made money off you. They are interested in supporting You and you feel it.. By doing so, they are not only helping you succeed but growing their team, appearing more desireable as a team to join and growing as leaders.

2. Leaders motivate and inspire. They use words to build people up and not bring them down. They know what to say. They are positive and will keep the morale up.

3. Leaders don't do all the work. They involve you and keep you accountable. They show you the way and then let you take over.

4. Leaders edify and encourage. It's important to recognize your team for their wins big and small both privately and publicly. In Network Marketing and Internet Marketing, leaders post pictures and descriptions of their team members' accomplishments all over Social Media!

5. Leaders are ethical and honest. They communicate and are open not secretive and unscrupulous.

6. Leaders walk the walk. They lead by example. They don't just tell you what to do. They show you what they are doing.. by doing it.

7. Leaders continue to grow and educate themselves. When you are in a position of a leader, you haven't reached some magical destination where you know everything and never and never need to learn anything again. True leaders know that they are more valuable to their team when they are constantly learning and passing on that knowledge.

By doing this, leaders create team culture.… and when you have a leader like that, I bet if she has a Big Gulp sitting in front of her desk, you'll want one too… commissions included or not.

“To run fast, run by yourself. To run far, run with others” -African proverb

To your success and outrageous goals,

To your success and outrageous goals,

Tereza

P.S. You can find me everywhere. Here are some other places I hangout. Would love to connect!

http://www.terezakumriconline.com
http://www.twitter.com/terezakumric
https://www.facebook.com/tereza.s.kumric
http://www.instagram.com/terezakumric

#welovesteemit #quality