I had the pleasure of watching YoYo Ma perform in concert.  He played a solo, a duet with violin, and in a sextet.  In the sextet, there were two cellos.  Although YoYo is the star and audience draw, he played the second part and let the other cellist shine.  He was also the last one entering the stage and the last one to leave.  How many star musicians do you see do either of those things?  He is the ultimate team player.

Teams that work well together are synchronized in reaching their objectives.  They are aware of what every team member is doing while focusing on doing their own part well.  Successful teams have three common elements:

  1. Open communication that is regular and often prevents silos from developing within the team.
  2. Recognizing the strengths of each team member and allowing them to have their solos.
  3. Bringing in outsiders.  When expertise is missing, bring in an expert.  If a team has been stagnant, an external person can bring in fresh thoughts and stimulate discussion.

A team needs to be more than on the same page in order to be successful.  Each member is responsible for working toward the same objectives, to adjust to changing requirements and keep up with the pace.  That ensures that everyone is not only on the same page – they will all end on the same note at the same time.