“Carlos, why do you ask me if he’s a good player? Look at how many goals he scores per game!!!”
“That’s not enough, it doesn’t make him a decisive player”
This was the situation that occurred every time I asked a well-know teammate about the quality of a player. When he resorted to the number of goals, I always replied the same. He sometimes threw his hands up, but for me it was clear: no, it wasn’t enough.
At least not in my team, at least not for me.
What makes you better, more productive, and essential in an organization? Is it talent? Experience? I ask this in a different way: what do you look for in someone to join your organization? What factors do you consider essential to hire them? Those are the types of questions I used to ask myself when I was still active, thinking about the teammates I had by my side. Who I wanted by my side when we went into battle or who I was going to stand up for when he was in need. It has always been important to me.
As a player, I was looking for a teammate who didn’t flinch, who gave his all on the court, not only in matches but in every training session. Someone who didn’t put his ego above the team, and who had heart. Now, as a manager of an organization, I look for people who have a team mentality, people who are reliable so that I can delegate tasks to them, share projects, so that they can feel part of the organization. I need to go to bed knowing that they will respond to their responsibilities; that is one of my priorities today.
In the end, it is the values that last, when it comes down to it, that is what defines you as a player, as a worker, as a person.
Knowing that your team or organization is led by someone with that leadership that shines for its perseverance, for its ability to unite all the parts is a luxury. Imagine the feeling of having someone like our ambassador Siraba on your team, someone you know you can trust because she will find a way to make things work. That’s becoming less and less common; rara avis. (by the way, here you can see the interview we did with Siraba)
Who do you prefer on your team, the best prepared or the ones with the strongest values? You have to choose.
I laugh as I write this because some of the kids I teach physical education at school come to mind. I always choose three captains and let them pick their teams. Always equally, one boy, one girl, and so on. The first few days they picked their friends, then the ones who run the most and after two months they realize that in the end what matters are the values they have. That guy runs but he doesn’t listen and, in the end, he doesn’t learn, it doesn’t work for me. She jumps a lot but she is always complaining, it doesn’t work for me. He throws the ball very well, but he cheats, it doesn’t work for me either. Kids are not stupid; they quickly conclude that a bad attitude weighs down the entire group.
They realize that and that’s the lesson I try to teach them. The importance of values.
Fight, don’t give up, work. Maybe you won’t make it, but without a doubt, you will be closer and, in that process, you will have learned life lessons.
Carlos Prieto.