The workplace is the ultimate melting pot – people want jobs and know that their outside-of-work preferences are secondary to the goals and objectives of the company and their colleagues. It’s the perfect environment for teamwork and shared objectives that are larger than themselves. Leaders are responsible for promoting and maintaining that and for the most part, employees expect and accept that. Years ago, we used to let employees dress up in western garb during the National Finals Rodeo week and everyone got into the mood. When the Executive Chef asked how we might expand that to employees in the kitchens who were required to wear white uniforms in accordance with health safety issues, I came up with what I thought was a smart solution: we offered to allow them to wear red bandanas; problem was that, unbeknownst to anyone, many were members of rival gangs outside of work (that had their own unique colors) and now that it became known, there were potential animosities. We let them choose their bandana colors but insisted that nothing changed in the kitchen – teamwork was still required. And suddenly, employees who may not have talked to each other outside of work, were acknowledging that they had more in common and could get along in the workplace and beyond. Teamwork is a great idea that can impact lives today.
Vince Lombardi (1913 – 1970): American football coach and executive in the National Football League (NFL). He is considered by many to be among the greatest coaches and leaders in American sports.
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