Who said, “The secret of our success is that we never, never give up”?
No matter what type of job you do, you usually must work with others to get something accomplished. There are those who think teamwork “just happens” when you put people together in a group. Reality, however, suggests that instant teamwork is anything but. We’ve found it’s usually led by someone who, through a combination of natural talent and years of experience, knows how to empathize, communicate, solve problems, and motivate others.
One notable example of seeing this type of leadership in action happened in a small Cherokee community in the early 1980s. The town of Bell had a serious problem: it had no running water. There was essentially no money to hire a company to build the 16-mile waterline needed. So how do you get families who are mostly unemployed, disempowered, and who feel that no one will listen to them to build it themselves?
One woman took on that challenge. Wilma Mankiller was an activist who was passionate about improving people’s lives. Her focus was giving communities access to water and housing, and Bell was the perfect first project for the Community Development Department for the Cherokee Nation, which she founded. Wilma believed in the people of Bell and, in working next to them every day, got them to believe in themselves. Wilma listened to them, encouraged everyone to pitch in, and advocated on their behalf with relentless compassion. Wilma was the voice they needed and 14 months later, they had running water flowing into their homes and businesses for the first time.
If you stop in the town of Stilwell, Oklahoma, which is about a 15-minute drive northwest of Bell, and visit the Wilma P. Mankiller Health Center, you’ll find a statue dedicated to her by the Cherokee Nation. It’s a maple tree that stands about 12 feet tall, decorated with turtles and a butterfly. Three turtles are “climbing” to the top which symbolize the Cherokee people doing what others never thought possible, striving toward the goals set by their ancestors. Stones at the base stand for the rocky paths that the ancestors walked. And at the top of the tree sits a large butterfly, representing Wilma, and her hopes for a bright future for the Cherokee people. In the trunk of the tree is a quote of Wilma’s beautifully carved that states, “The secret of our success is that we never, never give up.” Notice the “our” and the “we” in that sentence.
This first female Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation never did give up helping the Cherokee people, and from all of her successes in collaborating with communities to make their lives better, was named Ms. Magazine Woman of the Year in 1987.
In our experience in working with leaders and organizations over the years, teamwork leads to higher levels of trust. When colleagues see that you’re willing to communicate openly, share responsibility, jump in and help, do what you say you’re going to do, and solve problems together, they’re more likely to trust you. Over time, being consistent helps strengthen that trust, which ultimately helps drive the team to do great things together.
Teamwork is the fifth and final value in our blog series to keep in mind when you’re working to build “TRUST” with others:
- Transparency
- Respect
- Understanding
- Support
- Teamwork
Thank you for following along as we explored what trust really means in the workplace. Building trust doesn’t happen overnight, but with small, consistent actions, it can grow stronger every day. Whether you’re leading a team or just starting out, remember TRUST is earned. Keep showing up, listening, and following through. For more information about how to be an effective leader people can trust, explore our website, and please share your thoughts with us – we look forward to hearing from you.
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