Tuesday is the last day in the Pyrenees, with a Category One (more difficult) and an Out of Category (HC) climb (most difficult). After today, the Tour de France says goodbye to the peaks that border between France and Spain. It is now that we see the physiological differences between the riders. After 17 days, the weak riders are cracking and peeling off. The field of 189 now stands at 158. Even Monday’s rest day cannot help 31 riders who have blown out.
Yet, the strong riders are getting stronger. Their lungs are fuller, muscles grown larger, their hearts are pumping more blood than the first day down the ramp at the opening time trial.
And I thought about teams, teams at work, your teams at work. Here is what I see. Most teams, under pressure, prolonged pressure, begin to crack and peel away, burnt out. Yet, a few teams get stronger.
And I began to ponder, “What’s the difference?” What are the elements of a team that doesn’t get burnt out, that goes the distance and emerges stronger than when they started? Think about teams you are a member of. What is the critical element that makes that team strong?
I have a book, The Power of Attitude, autographed by the author, Mac Anderson, for the best post. See you tomorrow after Stage 16. -TF
Intense Focus. Attention to detail. Sense of Urgency.
Knowing you can draw upon the reset of your team, and count on them at any time. Having a group of people who would rather stick their necks out to do it right the first time than take the easy way out.
The teams that remain strong are the teams that, when the pressure is on,
find solutions to problems and fight through them to attain the solution.
The other teams just find the problems and where to point fingers. You need
leaders that want to find solutions and can focus their team to attain this
goal…keep your eye on the prize even if it feels impossible to achieve.