Favorite Quotes: "He who has a 'why' to live for can bear almost any 'how.' -- Friedrich Nietzsche
"When you discover your mission, you will feel its demand. It will fill you with enthusiasm and a burning desire to get to work on it." -- W. Clement Stone
Maxwell begins this chapter with a story from the American Revolutionary War. The story took place June 28, 1778 near Monmouth Courthouse in the town of Freehold, New Jersey. General George Washington was planning a full attack on the British. General Washington was forced to take control of the troops from General Charles Lee who had taken a more tentative approach to his attack on the British. This was an exhausting fight and the soldiers were in much need of water. Mary Hays, the wife of artilleryman William Hays, went to the front lines and supplied the men with water so they could continue to fight. She was dedicated to the American's cause and was willing to do any task needed to help the soldiers. On one of her many trips to the front lines to bring water to the troops, she watched her husband be shot and killed from enemy fire. Instead of stopping to mourn the loss of her husband, she took his place as the cannon's gunner knowing that every gun was important for the success of this battle. The Americans won this battle because of their determination and commitment as a team. This battle boosted the troops morale and was a political triumph. General Washington named Mary Hays a noncommissioned officer because her efforts.
Mary Hays, also known as Molly Pitcher, is a wonderful representation of the attitude the people had while fighting in the Revolutionary war. They were mission conscious -- they had a united purpose and worked together to accomplish it. Each individuals actions were driven by the thoughts of what was best for their cause, fellow fighters, and their nation.
4 qualities of all mission-conscious players:
- They Know Where the Team is Going
- They Let the Leader of the Team Lead
- They Place Team Accomplishment Ahead of Their Own
- They Do Whatever Is Necessary to Achieve the Mission
Any member of a team can hinder the success of the whole team if they are too focused on their individual success or agenda. The team's mission should always be kept in each team member's mind at all times.
To improve your mission consciousness...
- Check to see if your team focuses on its mission: a team isn't really a team if it isn't going anywhere
- Find ways to keep the mission in mind: have a mission statement and remind yourself of that statement on a regular basis
- Contribute your best as a team member.
"Good team players see more than the details of the moment. They are always conscious of a team's mission and act to help achieve it."
Yo,
ReplyDeleteThanks for your insight into quality 11. One of the things about this year that really impressed me was how willingly and cheerfully everyone came together to achieve goals for and with our students. We became mission conscious as a group very quickly and I appreciate that about this staff very much. Wherever you are next year, this group will pull together with the team to benefit children.