Going Small To Go Big - How To Kick Start Your Team

This tip has shown up in multiple events, so I thought it was time to share it. There have been at least 3 occurances where I've seen a team who is solely focused on getting the highest revenue (and thus more difficult sites) first comes back with one of the lowest results. With all the focus on aim high, go big and set big goals, how can this be?

Here is the KEY distinction that would immediately help these teams - Go Small To Go Big. The concept is, if you're going to go big, make sure to get some small wins along the way. Even getting one small win gives your team immediate feedback about what they are doing well, that they can achieve success and that they can move on to the harder, more challenging goals. Nothing is more demoralizing or destroys momentum then to go for a big goal on the first shot and fail. Much like the process of learning, a team needs to get that hit that their process is working and that they can do better.

This is backed up in Rudy Gulianni's book "Leadership". This strategy was used as soon as Rudy took office. He took a seemingly small problem, NY City Window Washers, you know, the street people who come up with greasy rags, spray & clean your window, then demand money for their services. This was a key point from the voters and from out of town tourists who did not like this. With his staff, they found a jaywalking law that made the window washers illegal, then they went to enforce it.

Within a week, the window washers were gone. People and press took immediate positive notice and Rudy's team went on with the confidence and momentum that comes with even a seemingly minor and small win.

Next time you put together a team with big, big goals (and BTW I think you should have big goals), then remember to ask yourself, what's a small goal that we can achieve along the way to kick start our team.

I hope you enjoy these TEAM tips and I look forward to seeing you at your next event.

-John Chen
CEO, PLAYTIME Inc.
Infusing Team and Leadership Skills Through Technology and Adventure
http://www.playtimeinc.com