Never dis Your Supply Chain

This thought came to me after trying to make a point to my teenage daughter. Given all the things we have to do, and all the things we have to juggle to be able to do the things we have to do, it’s easy to forget how much we need to rely on others to get stuff done. It’s also easy to believe that we survive and thrive though the genius of our own making. Teams are about interdependence. I get, you give. I give, you get. Handing off, dividing work, getting back, sharing ideas, exploring differences and celebrating success are all two way with a back and forth flow.

Supply chains are a good way to think about how we all add value, and how we rely on our team mates to supply us with the straw we spin into gold. I need my personal supply chain to get through the day. It’s one of those things that I often take for granted, since I am in it. Like the fish, I don’t think about the water. And yet, I notice any crimp in the line that affects my deliverables.

One of the things we immediately talk about on a team retreat is the amount of interdependence the members have and need from each other. Often we find that we can discover major interdependencies that facilitate increases in trust, just by brining up the topic of how much the team members need to work together. Discovery of interdependence is always a good thing on teams. Actualizing interdependence is even better. It begins with awareness and it is strengthened by appreciation. Look across your team, and note where the interdependencies are actualized. It’s a recipe for moving to lean processing and high performance.

And remember, as I said to my daughter about getting her common application for college competed on time, “Never, dis your supply chain.”