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All players have a place where they add the most value

We have all experienced being on teams in where people had taken on roles that did not suit their skill set. What happens to the team in which one or more players are out of position. I believer there are several things that are obvious:

• Morale erodes
• Resentfulness because of poor performance
• Being overlooked when you know you have the talent
• Unwillingness to work as a team
• Confidence erodes
• Competitors take advantage of the obvious weaknesses

This is the Law of the Niche – everyone should be in their proper place in order to function as a high capacity team.

Having the right people in the right places is essential to team building. High capacity teams will change according to the placement of people. Notice:

• The wrong person in the wrong place = Regression
• The wrong person in the right place = Frustration
• The right person in the wrong place = Confusion
• The right person in the right place = Progression
• The right people in the right places = Multiplication

To be able to place each person on the team correctly there are a few obvious points that leaders should not overlook.

You Must Know The Team – You cannot build high capacity teams without knowing the vision, purpose, or culture. If you are unsure as a leader where you are going then any road will take you somewhere. One thing is for sure, you cannot lead a team to its fullest potential until you are clear on vision, purpose, and culture.

You Must Know The Situation – you might clear on the vision, purpose, and culture but understand that situations constantly change. Discerning the situation requires a keen awareness of your surroundings. As teams mature and become mature and adept a leader can then begin to focus on fine-tuning the talent pool and placement into specializations.

You Must Know The Players – It almost seems overly simplistic, but yet it is important – Know the people on your team! Leadership is about assisting people to find their place not getting them to conform to you image! Team members should show respect t leaders, but leaders should not expect team members to be carbon copies of their actions and thought process. Every person has a unique skill set and nuance to bring to the table of discussion.

With these three key things stated regarding leaders, what about your role as a team member? Here are five suggestions.

Be Secure – No amount of personal competency compensates for personal insecurity (Wayne Schmidt). If you allow your insecurities to get the better part of you, you will become inflexible and reluctant to change. In order to grow, you must be willing to change!

Get To Know Yourself – You most likely never discovery your niche without taking time to learn about your strengths and weaknesses. There are various assessment tools to help you. Do a 360 report on yourself that allows others to speak freely and openly into your life.

Trust Your Leader – A good leader will help you start moving in the right direction. If you do not trust your leader, seek the counsel of another mentor or get on another team.

See The Big Picture – Your position on the team only makes sense within the context of the Big Picture. If you discover your personal niche for personal gain only – you are preventing your own progress and you have poor motivation.

Rely on Your Experience – When it comes down to it, the only way to know that you have discovered your niche is to try what seems right and learn from our failures and successes. When you find your place you will say, “there is no place like this place anywhere near this place, so this must be the place!”

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Music: “Gratitude Mood” by David Arivett. You can learn more about his music by clicking on his name. THANKS DAVID!