I need a team that can act like Special Forces

With all the madness that is happening on this planned I believe that every country in the world, particularly after violent incidents in their history, will devote more resources to the creation and development of special forces teams that are highly specialized in neutralizing, securing or eliminating highly strategic enemy targets.

My blog today, and after a long silence, is not about war or military, but about what I can do with my team to learn more from these types of special war units. 

It’s not about a fight with weapons rather only a fight for what we can deliver. I have never been in a military, but I have some kind of a knowledge that I would like to marry with my current role and experience that I wanted to share.

In all movies special military team only wins when they act as a single unit, and that takes many hours working together before they become a true team. Most individuals that show up to the team incredibly rigorous selection process is most likely a very capable soldier and athletic individual, but only a few make it. Why? The most important reason is because individuals understand that success only comes from a cohesive team that acts like "ONE". Each individual must be skilled and fit but they will have more wins when they act as a true team. A little internal competition is healthy, but when unity is destroyed and egos dominate, a "WIN" is less likely to happen. One mission, one goal, one team.

This successful team either wins or learns, but never quits. Pain, sweat or sleep deprivation in combat are part of all missions, and they never assume that completing the mission will be easy. A team, including every single member, must be mentally prepared to endure the hardships of walking long hours in difficult terrain while dealing with unexpected threats and carrying a heavy load on their shoulders. This is what I want for my team! To be ready, to endure, as competitive and tough as it is.

Team must take the time to rehearse and prepare before they move to action. Things don't just "happen". The essence of teamwork relies on trying and testing "becoming a unit" before you are deployed on the battlefield. These are not only table top exercises but live fire drills. I want a team that can work team with a ready to delivery, to act for it whatever their function is. Many thoughts about investing in realistic simulation training, particularly now with augmented reality environments but what other ideas can we bring all together to have to make team realistically practice "becoming as a unit".

Usually leaders take full responsibility for the team, both in good and bad times. This is the fundamental principle of "extreme ownership. Performance with no excuses. A high performing team doesn't always win, but the leader is 100% accountable for the result. They may have thought that everything was clear, and some members didn't perform their duties as expected, but those are leadership excuses. A true leader will take responsibility for the lack of results, and make sure failures don't happen again. Don't ask "your organization", now ask yourself: are you ready to take full ownership for the lack of results under your leadership?.

Leaders can't afford weak links in their team. If a team member is not performing at the highest level, that individual may hinder the entire operation. It is extremely important to be vigilant when performance goes down, and not let toxic behaviours or attitudes get in the way. Without any hesitation, get rid of underperformers isn’t very difficult. Minimize the spread by removing the bad cells as quickly and swiftly as possible.

Have your work teams act like Special Forces teams to win in a manner, by getting them to act as a unit, never quit, prepare intensively, own their wins and losses, and where every member holds themselves and everybody else in the team accountable to a high-performance standard.