The rescue of the coal miners in Chile last week exemplifies teamwork. Both the group of 33 miners below the surfaced and the rescuers above showed extraordinary teamwork.
The men below, living in virtual darkness together in unpredictable conditions, supported one another both physically and mentally. They shared a common goal- to be rescued safely.
Like any strong team the miners had an effective leader and each person had a role. One was a videographer, another the comedian and another the spiritual leader. The leader created structure. The miners showed courage, belief and hope.
The forces on the outside also exhibited teamwork as they put the rescue operation in place.
Planning, preparation and communication were essential. The rescuers anticipated various possible scenarios and developed solutions.
In addition, the planners broke the enormous operation into small segments and worked with all available resources. By coordinating government, private industries and various international partners, the team created a workable operation that completed its mission successfully ahead of schedule.
- Does your team have a clearly defined common vision?
- Do you work with all of your available resources?
- How are people taking risks and showing courage?
- How are team members supporting one another?
- What will it mean to achieve the vision?
These miners and rescuers were clear on these answers. This clarity was able to move them from darkness to light.