The Magic of Common Purpose in Teams

 ‘Our basketball team can do so much better,’ said Rahul. ‘But we’re not able to play to our potential.’

‘Happens everywhere,’ said Rinku. ‘We’ve got great individual players but fail as a team. Wonder why?’

‘That’s because we behave like a group of individuals, not like a team,’ said Rakesh. ‘Be it with family, friends, college, society, it’s the same. Real teams work together to achieve a common purpose that grows the team and the individuals. Real teams achieve much more than the sum of their parts. And, as the team achieves its potential, individuals perform to their potential as well.’  

‘Wow, how can I get our team going in the next game bhaiyya?’ asked Rahul.

‘Just like you get a boat moving forward when two people are rowing,’ smiled Rakesh. ‘Or, an army marching forward in sync. Get them to work for a common purpose. An army’s purpose is to win the war. Your basketball team’s purpose is to win the tournament. An organisation’s or a relationship’s purpose is to grow to its fullest potential. When our entire team knows and works towards the common purpose, we achieve miracles.’

‘How do we set a common purpose?’ asked Rinku.

‘In any team, a good purpose to start with is to grow the team to its fullest potential,’ said Rakesh. ‘Within that, you can set more specific purposes. Ideally, the leaders spell out the team’s common purpose with the team’s involvement. But if not, any member, even you, can articulate it, as someone who’s interested in the team’s growth.’

‘That’s it bhaiyya?’ asked Rahul.

‘That’s only half the job,’ said Rakesh. ‘The important part is getting every single member of the team to know and state the common purpose of the team. Can your team members tell the common purpose of your team if you ask them now?’

‘No bhaiyya,’ said Rahul. 

‘Happens with most teams,’ said Rakesh. ‘Most of us assume that the others know the team purpose - which is why we end up working at cross purposes, moving in different directions, towards different goals. So Rahul, start your team building exercise by making sure your team’s common purpose is clearly articulated and understood, and everyone’s saying the same thing  –  we’re playing to win the tournament. It focuses all your energy, your effort.’

‘And make everything else subservient to the team’s purpose,’ said Rinku. ‘Because working for the team’s common purpose helps individual members achieve their potential too. It’s a win-win.’

‘Thanks bhaiyya,’ said Rahul. ‘I’ll set a common purpose for all my teams– family, friends, college - and make them more purposeful and growth-oriented.’

Pro Tip: To get the best out of all your teams and relationships set a common purpose of growth and watch how it grows you, your team and your relationships. Never assume that everyone knows the purpose.

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