Team Work

There were many things I learned in the African Theater class at college taught by the then-grad-student, Toyin Bello.

One thing was to respond enthusiastically when Toyin asked a question like, “How are you all today?” We were jaded 20 year-olds, desperately cool, and would answer with a sour grunt. After watching a documentary on the musical Sarafina, where the cast and director would beam raucous and radiant welcomes to one another, I realized that Toyin was inviting us every day to join him in joy. I’m happily un-hip to this day, thank you Toyin!

He also introduced me to the “Shakespeare of Africa,” Wole Soyinka, whose plays are still seared into my memory.

Most importantly, Toyin taught me the true meaning of team work. He told us that in Africa, if one student in a class fails, the entire class fails; it is not any individual’s fault, it is our collective responsibility. Every student is responsible for every other member of the class. Think of that?

This idea, even more than the idea of being joyfully enthusiastic, was the most unsettling. A seismic shift from orienting towards the success/survival of the individual to recognizing we are a part of the whole system.

Previously, group projects were frustrating for me because one person always felt they were doing more and everyone else was dragging them down. In team sports we would be angry at the person who could not keep up in the relay race, or the goalie who let in ball. On stage, the person who forgot their lines or missed an entrance was blamed for the audience’s lackluster applause. And at work, we resent the person who just does’t seem engaged or leaves early when we are all working into the night.

Toyin’s comment reframed this for me. What if it is our collective responsibility, not to cover for others or do all the work ourselves or find ways to replace people, but to give every person what they need to be a full member of the team so that we all succeed? It changes the way we see failure. And success.

If someone is not engaged, could it be that they don’t agree with the mission or are not even aware of the bigger purpose of the work? That’s great information! Maybe we are not communicating the vision or are ignoring their input so they have withdrawn. If they do not have the skills, maybe this is not the right fit for them or they need more training. If they always leave early, maybe they need to take care of a child/partner/parent.

What would it feel like if in our offices, schools, committees, we all felt responsible for every member of the community? How would it change the idea and feeling of team work if there was an expectation that if one person was not keeping up, not capable, even, that we all would swoop in and make sure they were supported enough to rise to the occasion? How would that shift our approach and outcome? How would that ease resentments and foster comittment?

This week, let’s give it a try! Starting with open-hearted curiosity and a rousing, “How are you today?”

*And, of course, sometimes, we need to let go of the rope.