During a recent team building retreat, the staff at ElderCounsel participated as a team in “The Amazing Race.”  We were sent out into the streats of South Beach to solve puzzles, frantically search for clues, and gather numerous treasure hunt items all while trying not to become dehydrated, or worse, struck by a car while gazing up at road signs and buildings! 

While we were not the winners, we did learn some valuable lessons about the strengths of each of our team members and how to best utilize those strengths, the ability of each of us to take a leadership role when necessary, and how to divide and conquer yet still communicate effectively with each other.  (We also learned we are very poor guessers when we did not know an answer!)

These lessons are pertinent to all of us, whether we are working with a staff of 1 or a staff of 100.  Be sure to consider these questions in your own business:  Are you aware of your strengths and those of your team?  Are you utilizing those strengths and communicating effectively with everyone on your team?  Hopefully the answer is “yes” but if not, consider an afternoon running around your city playing “The Amazing Race.”