Last week I played in the Brisbane Cobras Women’s 40s touch team at the National Touch League in Coffs Harbour. This was my return to competitive touch after 23 years. Having only played the odd mixed touch season over 15 years ago, my return to this game was as unexpected as it was joyous. I loved every single second of my preparation and tournament time with these amazing women. It was an absolute pleasure to be back amongst the touch football community and to be seeing so many familiar faces to as far back as my high school days representing Queensland. What a treat it is when you’re remembered from over 25 years ago.
Our team went into this tournament well prepared but a little shaken. Whilst our preparation was long and focussed, we lost some key players just prior to the tournament. The remaining girls dug deep to cover some of our most skilled teammates. We went through 7 round games undefeated (1 draw), only to go down by one point in the grand final to Gold Coast Sharks. Still for me personally it was hard to be disappointed, and here’s why.
This tournament reminded me of the importance of teamwork, knowing your role and what you best bring to the table, adopting the appropriate mindset, and following processes that are so carefully thought-out, presented, and practiced. All aspects that make the difference in how teams within our organisations perform. When we got that right, we killed it.
These women I played with reminded me of the importance of surrounding yourself with people that are genuine, honest, respectful, talented, selfless, and supportive. And when it was evident that a person didn’t demonstrate these qualities, it was also evident how much that impacted the team and the performance of it. We stumbled.
I routinely meet with senior executives in our industry who struggle to get their teams right. Edge is no different. We work in a specialist industry where genuine skills exist in a very shallow pool. Where personnel often change sides to avoid being exposed for what they bring (or do not bring) to the team, or simply to see if the grass is greener on the other side. Entitled personnel who focus more on driving their salaries that little bit higher or working from home that little bit longer, than they do delivering qualities that make a difference to the performance of the team and the business in general. Getting your team right is a constant challenge, but one worth embracing over and over again until you succeed.
Thank you Brisbane Cobras Women’s 40s for a week that couldn’t have come at a better time for me personally. Thank you for the memories. Mostly, thank you for the reminders and lessons that I’ve taken back to my amazing team and my businesses.
I look forward to going that one step further next year!
Ps does that face tell you I gave it 100%?! 😊
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