This weekend, I had the opportunity to see the new A-Team movie as part of my birthday celebration. Throughout the movie, I took several mental notes that have inspired me to write this post. Believe it or not, it was my wife’s idea to see the movie! Needless to say, she has excellent taste. To quote Col. John ‘Hannibal’ Smith, “I love it when a plan comes together.”
I realize that not everyone is an A-Team fan, so I’ll keep my references to a minimum. Instead, I’d like to share with you some of my thoughts on how being part of your very own A-Team can increase productivity, innovation, and help you advance in your career.
Recruit for Special Forces. As a manager, recruiting the right team members is extremely important. You want people who work well as a team, not simply as individuals. Build a relationship with your team, creating trust, loyalty, and a creative, fun work environment. Select those that you want to be part of the mission, classified or otherwise.
Strategize. “I believe no matter how random something may appear, there’s still a plan.” – Col. John ‘Hannibal’ Smith. Have a plan! As crazy as it may seem at first, it’s always best to have a plan. You can adjust as needed along the way. Be sure to work with your team on this plan, ensuring that everyone is on board. Communication is key here. There is no Plan B – give every project all you’ve got. You may not have a second chance.
Fight (for what you believe in). Don’t let others steamroll you, your team, or your ideas. If you believe in something, stand up for it. Fight for what is right and make sure that everyone on the team is fighting for the same thing. This could be the hardest thing you’ll ever do in your entire life, but if you fight for what you truly believe in, you may just be surprised at the end result.
Cover me. In any operation, having back-up is very important. You’re not looking for someone to cover up when you screw up, but simply to be there for assistance as needed and support throughout. As a team, you’ll need to back-up each other and work together!
With these things in mind, also know that whether you’re the leader like Hannibal, the rogue playboy Face, the conscientious muscle like B.A., or the slightly off-kilter Murdock, know that it’s what each person brings to the group that truly makes for an A-Team.
Photo credit: IMDB.com
Campus To Career 
Great blog today Kirk. Great teams consists of members who give 100% towards the success of that team. Without our full commitment of the skills we bring to the table, the group will not succeed. If the team succeeds, you will get personal glory. It’s not the other way around.
Thanks again for a great Monday food for thought.
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Thanks Cindy! I’m loving your blog as well. Keep up the great work!
PS. For others, the link is http://realcareermanagement.wordpress.com I’m all about paying it forward. 🙂
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Loved this Kirk! I love that line . .”I love it when a plan comes together!” This is point on!
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Thanks Kim! Have you seen the movie yet? I thought it was great! I remember watching the original on TV….what is Mr. T doing these days?
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Hi Kirk!
I love your blog…I agree with your “mantras” 100 %. It’s always refreshing to hear a familiar viewpoint.
I work for a unique company planning Urban Adventure Races & Corporate Team Building Events, we are trying to find more ways to increase our partnerships and out reach. I think I will just have to follow your blog 🙂 I would love to chat more and find out how we can “cover” each other.
Have a great day and
JS
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Hi Jennifer,
Thanks for the kind words about my blog. I’m still tweaking it from time to time, so it’s great to hear nice things. 🙂 I’d love to chat more about potential partnership as it relates to blogging. Feel free to email me at kirk.baumann@att.net (other ways of contacting me are listed on the Let’s Connect tab).
Kirk
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I love it when someone make a personal development blog out of a film/show like the A-Team.
Marvellous and well said.
Regards
Stephen
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Stephen,
Do you have the theme song in your head now? Thanks for the comment. I appreciate it!
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I read you blog by running into it by accident and I wanted to give kudos and say everything there is totally true. I have had a rough time with life, and in jobs, always doubting myself and my work. The last 5 years, I had the opportunity to work for an A-team and it has helped me in the job perspective, and in my life in ways one wouldn’t realize until some time has past after the fact .
I worked for a company that makes roofing tar through a temp agency off on on for those 5 years. We separated quite a few times for good reason, and very bad reasons, yet they still took me back whenever possible, and I’ll forever be in their debt, and look to them in the future when joining a team in my professional life.
If anyone out there finds such a “A-Team” don’t make my mistakes, and strive to make your team better at every aspect possible in a way that benefits the team, and when the entire team benefits, you will notice the team will have the opportunity do the things in life that they strive to do to make them, and their family’s happy.
Just keep that in mind if you are blessed enough to understand my ramblings, lol. I’ll put it this way to be blunt about what being in a a-team does for a team at work, and at home.
Life is short, so live life to the fullest you possibly can. Work hard, and go that extra mile even if your not rewarded for it right away, or soon as you think you should. All that work will take notice, and you gotta realize that sometimes the people that notice have limitation as what they can do to help the team strive. Everyone has someone above them that sets these limits, and it’s a cold hard fact of life.
When a team works well at work, the team is happier at home as well. They go hand in hand as they say. A happy worker, is a happy human and happiness rubs off 🙂
I’m sure i said some things multiple times, possibly in different ways, but when i sit down and type…well let’s say my mind moves to fast and it just flows out of me that way. If I were to go back and read, simply to fix it, I’d never post anything online cause It never makes since most times to me.
thank you for reading my rant, and good luck out there everyone. I wish you all the best in life.
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Enjoyed this post very much, Kirk! As the Director of Admissions at my institution, I have been known to begin the meetings of the Admissions Team, AKA the A-Team with the A team theme song 🙂
All humor aside – a thought-provoking article! Thanks!
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Glad you liked it, Wendy. Now I have the theme song in my head today! 🙂
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