By Manoj Gupta

From Individual Excellence to Collective Brilliance

Imagine this: a team of brilliant minds, each an expert in their field. The engineer can build a rocket ship, the marketer can sell it to the moon, and the graphic designer can create a killer logo for the mission patch.

Sounds impressive? But here's the catch: they all work in silos, with zero communication or collaboration.

Now imagine that same team, but this time, they're all fired up about a shared purpose – A trip to the moon, for example. Suddenly, the engineer is designing a fuel-efficient rocket with robust landing gear on the moon's craters, the marketer is crafting a campaign that appeals to the adventurous spirit, and the graphic designer is creating a logo that evokes a sense of exploration.

See the difference?

That’s the power of a Team with ‘Shared Purpose’!

Assembling the right Platoons: The Importance of Diverse Skills

In my over three decades in the corporate arena, from the raw ambition of a young Techy to a seasoned leader; from fist pumps to shoulders dropping, I have witnessed the whole nine yards.

The corporate world can be a warzone in its own right.

In all my years of being a General, I have learned that without the right Platoon and war machinery, you will not be able to win the battle alone… unless you are Rambo…!

Yes, reel life is very different from real life!

One needs the right squad by their side. And, when I say a squad, I don’t mean a bunch of ‘yes’ men or women. Rather, the ‘Think-tanks’ that get the best out of you and the others, with their diverse skills, strengths, and experiences.

I have learnt the hard way that it takes far more than just the data-driven insights of top lines and profitability reports to build and drive a business. It takes people, their passions, and motivations to draw the battle lines and strategies to make any captain proud of the performance.

From 'Me' to 'We': The Power of Collaboration

Let's be honest, even the most talented singers need a good music band to shine. The same goes for your team. You need to create an environment where team collaboration and workspace communication are king.

Information hoarding and departmental rivalries are a recipe for disaster.

Think back to the launch of the New Coke formula in 1985. Rather than communicating effectively with the taste-testers, the marketing team concentrated solely on metrics.

The result? A PR fiasco.

Remember the colossal flop that was Google Glass? Although the technology was good on paper, the lack of diversity within the development team led to the product's failure. The team was too focused on a tech fantasy and failed to consider real-world applications.

That’s where the culture of collaboration and communication is key.

A corporate culture, where asking questions and sharing ideas is celebrated, those ecosystems flourish and thrive!

Igniting Passion through Purpose

Helping the team collaboration with the mission is like lighting a fire – the more they understand the purpose, the more likely they are to fan the flames of their passion and dedication.

Because when people connect with the purpose, they're more likely to go the extra mile.

Let’s take an example scenario: If you were just hired to stack boxes in a warehouse, you probably wouldn't put much effort into it. You may change your perspective completely if you realize those boxes hold life-saving medicines and vaccines. Suddenly, stacking boxes becomes a way to help people, and that kind of purpose can be incredibly motivating.

That’s where helping the team transformation with the company's mission makes a big difference!

When Steve Jobs came out with that famous ‘Think Different’ Manifesto, Apple and its workforce suddenly found their ‘why’.

Summing Up…

For me, success is more than just profit and revenue growth; it's about making a difference and creating a positive impact.

As a Consciouspreneur®, I practice it, and I promote it.

What is your take?