imapMyTeam Blog

Are you a Coupler?

Coupler: a device for connecting railway cars or trucks together

A locomotive is a powerful machine. It is the source energy for the train. It follows a plan [the tracks] to a predetermined destination [the goal]. A locomotive cannot use that power, energy and plan however if it is not coupled to the freight cars that are carrying the cargo. Uncoupled, a locomotive would arrive at its destination by itself – and to what value?

People and teams are the same way. We may look to the manager or leader to be the locomotive of our train, but everyone is somewhat responsible for ‘coupling the cars’ too. When we are connected we do better than being a lone car that has been left off the train…forgotten, rusting away.

Freight car’s couplers are designed to snap together or apart easily. People don’t work that way, but we each have important “couplers” those things about us that connect us easily with others. These couplers or connectors are available to you by logging into imapMyTeam.com.

The fastest connection to others is around common interests. We get energized when we find someone who shares our passions and interests whether work related or avocational. Use the interest section of your Team Dynamics grid to see what work and possible outside work connections you have.

Another key area of connection is recognizing and respecting differences. While we may have a lot in common, people are far too complex not to recognize that we are all different in some way. People who are great connectors realize differences are complimentary and a source of enhanced capability rather that a reason to clash. You can use the Team Player or Team Dynamics reports to see the similarities and differences of your coworkers.

The locomotive starts only when all the cars are coupled. Effectively moving along the tracks to your goal is only possible when you are fully connected - you can’t afford to pull away from the station and leave a single car behind. Get coupled!