The Value Of A Dream Team

Welcome to Principle #3

Cracking the code to building an “as one” team

What if the key to unlocking your business’s potential lies not just in what you do – but in WHO you do it with?

In over 30 years of pursuing stories about courageous leaders and bold organizations, one truth stands out: when people feel valued and anchored to a purpose they will work hard, remain engaged and loyal and help build lasting legacies.

This is especially important if you do not want to become another statistic in the “Great Detachment.” A term coined by Gallup to describe a major workplace shift where employees across America are feeling increasingly detached from their jobs.

Why the shift? Employee engagement reached an 11-year low and employees are “seeking” new jobs at the highest level since 2015. Yet, employees are not making the leap to a new employer due to a cooling job market and an economy marred by inflation. Instead, employees are feeling stuck with their discontent. They quit psychologically but do not leave.

Avoiding the Great Detachment is the heart of our Third Principle from Life by Design, Not Default: Recruit to an Environment: The Value of a Dream Team.

What Makes A Dream Team?

It starts with understanding three essential human needs:

  • To be loved and accepted. Genuine acceptance removes fear and invites authenticity and creativity. Imagine a work environment where genuine acceptance removes fear and creates freedom to be completely real, no posing, pretending or projecting. So real that people are free to collaborate, strengthen and function “as one.”

  • To change and grow. The best environments inspire transformation. People want more than “just a job.” We all want our contributions to be anchored to a mission, a cause or a calling. And despite all the talk about resistance to change, we still desire it, especially when it involves self-improvement and self-development.

  • To belong. We are wired for connection, sadly when the pandemic hit we were forced to isolate and separate. And we’re still trying to figure out living and working hybrid. Mental health has taken a hit. Depression, loneliness, addictions and suicide have escalated to alarming levels. We are social beings who long for meaningful connection, we are better together!

Creating a culture of acceptance, growth and belonging is key to mitigating the “Great Detachment.”

Culture: By Design or By Default?

Every business has a culture, whether you build it intentionally or let it develop by accident. A thriving, “all-in” environment doesn’t happen by chance.  Please know, culture is as much the will of the people as it is the will of the C-suite. Culture is everyone’s job! Everyone is responsible for culture, from leaders to individual contributors. Every member of the team can do things to advance or undermine the culture.

Default cultures tend to:

  • Hire for skills without prioritizing character or cultural fit

  • Leave vision, mission, and values vague

  • Struggle with unclear expectations and communication

Design cultures, on the other hand:

  • Recruit for character because skills can be taught

  • Emphasize clarity of vision and values

  • Develop leaders who are authentic, courageous, and transparent

The “As One” Mindset

Five letters, two words, one powerful concept. Adding “as one” to a word dramatically changes the meaning.

Add “as one” to any word, and watch the power shift:

  • Working → Working as One

  • Creating → Creating as One

  • Winning → Winning as One

This mindset transforms not only your business but also your relationships, family, and community.

The People You Choose Define Your Culture

The truth is, you don’t build a business – you build people, and they build the business.

That’s why it’s critical to:

  • Hire for attitude, train for skill. A bad attitude is more damaging than a lack of experience.

  • Make cultural fit nonnegotiable. Never compromise your values for performance alone.

  • See potential others might overlook. Look beyond resumes—into hearts, attitudes, and ambitions.

Ready to Inspire A Dream Team?

What will you do to be a fountain, someone who adds and multiplies, someone who inspires trust, models growth and development and anchors your contributions to a bigger cause and vision? What will you do in the New Year to inspire a team who works, creates and achieves “As One?”

Bring this message live…

To bring a highly CUSTOMIZED version of this message live to your team, organization, or association reach out for an exploratory call: kevinandjackie@freibergs.com