There Is No “I” …

There Is No “I”… (1,183)

June 20th, 2011

You know the saying: “There is no “I” in team.”

I’m sure the first time it was spoken it was very clever, and then gradually became a common colloquialism—and now, like most adages, because of its familiarity, it has gained some comedic poking and criticism.

It is factual—there is no “I” in team. But there is a “me”—because the word “team” has “me” in it. And even though teamwork needs the absence of egocentric individuals promoting their own agendas, it simultaneously requires the awareness of all the participants being completely cognizant of their “me” potential.

There is nothing worse than trying to drag somebody along, attempting to build his confidence, and ending up damaging the project because too much time was spent initiating motivation instead of doing the work.

I suppose the question might arise—what is the difference between “I” and “me?” Here it is: “Me” is an “I” who has spent some time peering into the mirror for clarification. Ego is when we decide that the way we are is supreme and needs no improvement. "Me" is an accurate assessment of abilities—and lack thereof—while drafting a plan on how to make the existing attributes work to a good conclusion.

There is a “me” in “team” —it is when highly-focused, totally aware participants possess a sense of good cheer about themselves.

When most projects fail, the organizers will be found trying to make excuses or even create deception to cover up the inadequacy. Here’s what it means to be a “me:”

1. I am human and sometimes flawed, and it’s okay. Any organization or religion that denies us the honor and privilege of human error is creating an environment for deceivers—because there are only two ways we can go: we can fail and be honest or we can fail and make an excuse.

2. I can fail and survive it unless I lie about it. I do not know of any particular iniquity that would cause people to be permanently judgmental of us unless we devise an elaborate plan for cover-up which causes people to believe in our innocence , leaving them feeling destitute, holding the bag, when our sins find us out. Oh, I am sure there are perversions that are still eternally distasteful, but not the garden-variety bloopers that normally crop up. Lying is what causes us to come across both foolish and unforgiving.

3. The key to successful “me” living is to proffer much less talking and institute more demonstration. One of the clues in my mind that something is NOT going to happen is when people hold too many meeting to discuss the project. For after all, the best way to render a righteous decision is to give something a chance and see how it pans out. If we human beings would spend more time coming up with experiments to try out our notions instead of talking ourselves into stupidity, or yakking ourselves away from greatness, we would soon understand that most of our fellow-travelers are drawn to visual evidence much more than verbal.

The best way to be a good “me” member of the team is to admit you’re human and flawed and it’s okay, refuse to lie about things that are human and therefore have some degree of plausibility, and finally, spend less time talking and more time demonstrating what you really think will work.

Even though there’s no “I” in team, there is a “me.” And the greatest way to contribute to the common good is to not be afraid of who I am: taking what I want and living it out so it is easily understood instead of overly explained.