Investment

Throughout our lives we invest time in other people and have time and effort invested into our lives, this includes our working life. So let us ask some questions. Is the investment in you paying off? Are you giving a good return for what your team mates are investing in you? As a team leader the best thing I can do is invest in my team. I am also a team member so the best thing I can do is invest in my team. When everyone is investing then the benefits multiply - One horse can pull one ton, 2 horses can pull 4 tonnes. Where there is a will, there is a way, where there is a team there is more than one way! In the New Testament, Jesus sent his disciples out in teams of 2, because he recognised that they could do more as a pair than they could achieve on their own. (Mark 6: 7-13) Follow the golden rule - treat others as you would wish to be treated Take care of yourself Choose a positive attitude Have a personal growth plan Give more than you receive It all comes down to attitude, if you haven't pursued the opportunities to grow and develop then you need to change - grow all you can and give a good return on your investment. As Team leader I have to determine the environment and whether my team are investing in others, this investment can be completed in many ways but one simple method is mentoring. We need to mentor others as well as being mentored, we will all have opportunities to mentor and we all need to take those opportunities when they show themselves, it may be something just as simple as a cup of coffee every month, or it could mean an occasional meeting and meal, over the coming weeks many of us will have the opportunity to network, meet people and we could end up with one or two new mentors, or even one or two new mentorees - not sure if that is a word, but it is someone we are mentoring. Opportunities like this do not come along every day, so look afresh at each day, try to learn something new and reflect daily about what you have achieved.