Front - AZ Teambuilding sro

PUSHING TO THE FRONT
daughter, as long as she stayed on the right side of the sidewalk she
could run and play and enjoy the day to her heart’s content. She did
not have to engage in a series of “Grandad, may I?” questions or guess
what it was that she could do today. She simply utilized her energy and
enthusiasm to create joy in complete safety and security.
The same principle is true for us and our teams as well. If we know what
it is that we are trying to accomplish, and while pursuing those outcomes,
goals, and objectives, stay within our boundaries, we can also thrive and
prosper and use our creativity, education, training and expertise to great
advantage. When we ignore a boundary we do so at our peril.
How many of us know of someone who has lost a career or a marriage
or a special relationship because they chose to transgress a boundary?
When I ask that question of live audiences, it is not unusual for every
single hand in the room to go up. The painful memories are almost palpable.
Sometimes for the participants, tears start involuntarily. We all
know someone who has suffered through this; perhaps that someone is
even us. The fact is that thoughtful boundaries provide safety, security
and reward while encouraging everyone to do their best.
So many of these boundaries we know by heart: don’t lie, don’t cheat,
don’t steal, and don’t take unfair advantage. Some must be agreed upon
with others: don’t embarrass me in front of your friends, don’t tell that
story about what we did in college, don’t wear orange to a Texas A&M
game, don’t take credit for the other unit’s sales. Some are promulgated
upon us: don’t drink and drive, don’t run a red light, don’t ‘road rage’
that guy that cut you off on the freeway and gave you the ‘one finger’
wave. Some are self-imposed: don’t take a second brownie (well okay,
a third), don’t talk about someone behind their back, and don’t leave
early even though others are.
This concept is ageless. King David of Old Testament fame says, “Surely
the boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places,” and pervasive:
virtually every sports field has a boundary line. It has also been abused;
sometimes the Emperor really doesn’t have any clothes on.
About now you are likely pushing back a little. As an enlightened manager,
executive, CEO or parent, you probably believe in empowerment
and see a boundary as a downer. I often hear, “I would rather tell folks
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