I was able to participate in a day-long planning workshop with colleagues from More Than Training Company. The most inspiring part of our encounter was a workshop lasting a few hours, where we asked ourselves what our values are and how we live them out every day. After an iterative and brutally honest discussion, we came to the conclusion that our values are
- Bravely Vulnerable
- We
- Towards Growth
Our middle rank was called a team at one point, but Me felt stronger in the end. At the end of the workshop, we brought up examples of situations where our values have been strongly present. When we were talking about the team, a memory from my army days popped into my mind. We had been in battle drills all day. At the end of the day, the leader of the exercise announced that the next step was a quick march a few kilometers away to the barracks. The announcement received mostly disbelieving looks, and a few of the fighters' lips seemed to let out frustrated groans. However, the instructor announced as a carrot that the winning team would not have to carry out equipment maintenance, but that its members would be able to get to the Soldier Home immediately after the training.
To put the attractiveness of the prize into perspective, I would like to say that the exercise had been very physical. In addition, I happened to belong to the singles team and at that time (a long time ago) heavy singles were still in use, with black powder charges shot into their three-meter tubes during training. The so-called crap caps smelled bad and came off the pipes quite badly, so there was plenty to maintain. So many of us had a stronger-than-average competitive drive when we set off.
I suggested to a guy I know is in good shape that we take a single to pull. Along the way, we caught competing teams that started off too fast one after another. Our goal was at the top of a steep and long hill in the yard of the company in Vekaranjärvi. On the hill, we gusted heavily, but we managed to move to the front position and arrive first. With pride in my voice, I clicked into position and informed the drill leader that our team was there. The officer looked at me for a moment and then shook his head saying, “Do you think your whole team is there now? It doesn't seem like it to me.” I looked around for a moment and made a shocking observation: one of the crowd was missing. Confusion and many questions followed. Maybe some accusation. I think we even went looking for the missing teammate. Anyway, by the time we were in full attendance and I could report to the manager again, the other teams had beaten us.
The officer leading the exercise looked at me with wisdom in his eyes. No mischievousness or malice. Maybe the freighter empathizes, because he knew what I soon realized too. Lintuse would not need to repeat this lesson, but learn it once. The team is at the finish line only when its last member is at the finish line. Not any earlier.
I shared my story with my MTTC colleagues at the workshop and now I wanted to share it with you too. So how does this value show up in our everyday life? The measure of a true team is what happens when things don't go our way. Sometimes it feels like the deal isn't working or there are other frustrations. In the everyday life of an entrepreneur, there can be plenty of feelings of inadequacy - even fear. Then the real team takes care of itself and makes sure that even the last one gets there. That's why one of our values is Me.
