Building a Team and a Culture

My inspiration for this post comes from a topic we frequently discuss here in the office: culture. However, the immediate inspiration comes from an article in a recent Van Trump Report (VTR) titled, “Building a Winning Team…”. A quick note on the VTR before I go on. We have subscribed to and read the VTR daily for years. There really isn’t a better, more well-written, comprehensive (they hit EVERYTHING) daily wire at an incredibly low cost out there.

Now, back to the topic! I almost didn’t read the article because, if I am being honest, “Building a winning team” brought back a little corporate PTSD for me. Another cliché that is overused to the point of becoming meaningless. But as I reluctantly read on, I kept thinking, “I could have written this”. “Culture” and “team” are intimately related, as are “chicken” and “egg” to the point of igniting the debate on which came first. Does the team drive the culture? YES! Does the culture attract the type of people you want on your team? Another YES. It is clichéd to say we want a strong team and the strong culture that it brings, but to quote a dear friend, “It is only a cliché because it is true.”

It is another dear friend, who was my business & life coach, who we unfortunately lost to cancer a few years back, who taught us about the importance of culture to an organization and how we should be very protective of the positive culture we have built here in our future endeavors, including the type of people we hire. Point taken. (Miss you, Mark).

I am blessed to work with the finest people in the industry. People who are not only the best at what they do, but truly the finest people. People who put the needs of others and the group ahead of their own needs. People who are willing to put their “shoulder to the wheel” as the saying goes to get the job done, no matter what, but who also know that “work before play” is NOT a recipe for success in life; “work hard/play hard” is a much better approach!

We have a collection of “old hands” with decades of experience, the battle scars to prove it, and the steady hand that comes from living through the difficult times. Mixed in, we have a wonderful collection of young talent with the energy & enthusiasm that brings.

Culture is not just an important part of growing a small business; it is the most important part. As I write this, Moving Parts is coming down the home stretch of our 21st year. We have accomplished a lot, but the thing that brings me the most pride is that not only have we built a “winning culture,” if you will, but we have also had zero turnover in those almost 21 years.

Dave Reeble, President and Founder

I have included the Van Trump article below with their permission:

Building a Winning Team... One of the Most Important Things You Can DoThe kids always ask me what I could have or would have done differently in life when it comes to business. I always tell them I wish I were better at building teams. I've always been good at doing my job and my tasks, but I've never been really great at delegating, motivating, and lifting others around me. 

I tend to get frustrated when others don't want to work as hard or as long, or do things to the best of their ability, and I often hear myself saying, "It will just be easier if I do it myself," which I know is not the best-of-practice when you are trying to grow and scale a business.

I have some friends who are absolutely fantastic at building, assembling, and growing teams. These people often have a special demeanor about them and a gift that builds people up and creates a winning culture. 

My kids are trying to build a winning team for their businesses right now. I think they are up to about 14 on their full-time payroll and are looking to hire more. They are slowly learning that there's an art to building a winning culture. They have had to shift their mindset from completing their own task and doing it all themselves to having a vision for growth and change and helping others reach their respective goals. Building winning teams is an entirely different mindset than grinding and working hard ourselves.  

Joshua Bonhotal, a former NBA strength coach, who is now an Angel Investor and Entrepreneur recently wrote something that was sent my way. I think Joshua makes many great points that we all need to consider and be reminded of in regard to building winning teams.  

In 2018, I joined a 10-person startup in a tiny basement office. Today it’s a 9-figure company with more coaches than the NFL, NBA, MLB, & NHL combined.If you want to build a world-class team, read this:With 13 years in elite sports, I’d always been told culture is everything. But, after finishing both 1st and last, I learned firsthand: People are your culture.Nobody even knew our company existed. But I was certain if we identified the right values, they would… Why values? Because culture sounds great, but it’s subject to change at any moment. Winning heals all wounds. But, what if you’re not winning yet?

People, and the values they live by, are the very crusaders who fight to grow and evolve a championship culture. When we discuss great teams and cultures, powerful mantras are often mentioned. It all "sounds" good. Yet, without personal meaning attached, those words ultimately fall short and ring hollow.

Values, on the other hand, drive the decisions you make when adversity hits... Easy enough. Surely there’s a one-size-fits-all set of values that determine success across any endeavor. Then again, it depends on the quest. So what would be the values to achieve our mission... And, make every hire?

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1. Others First: It’s Not About Me - To succeed where all others have failed, there’s no room for personal agendas. Help others — that’s it! 

2. Be Relentless: Work “Until…” - Work obsessively, and they’ll call you crazy. But, as another crazy guy, Steve Jobs, once said: “It’s the ones crazy enough to believe they can change the world who actually do.”

3. Be A Giver: No Keeping Score - There are 3 types of people:

·       Givers - Tend to do whatever they can, whenever they can, because they can—to help others. No tit for tat.

·       Takers - Tend to be self-focused, evaluating what other people can offer them.” 

·       Matchers - Tend to play tit-for-tat and try to preserve a balance between giving and taking.

4. Positive Vibes: Don’t Kill My Vibe - That doesn’t mean it’s all sunshine and rainbows. Businesses are really hard, so everyone will have days they’re frustrated, or pissed off.

We have two non-negotiables:

·       No gossip; only vent upwards

·       Our majority must tilt positive

5. Yes, And: Never “No, But” - Stealing from improv... To arrive at the best ideas, we needed to be open to the awful and crazy ones. Doing so creates an environment where everyone’s voice is heard. In turn, we protect against decisions made by the loudest voice, or the HiPPO (Highest Paid Person's Opinion).

 Simple—but powerful—these five values set the environment for many of the world’s best teams to take shape. Great Stuff!!!