Why clients return
This team is on fire
The secret recipe for TeamMagic, lived in a high-stress work environment. And what it is NOT!
I am sitting at the bar of a highly frequented restaurant.
It’s incredibly busy. People queuing for tables. We squeeze through to the bar, where there are 2 tiny spaces between other clients.
It’s loud. A mix of Flamenco music, loud voices trying to talk to each other and people singing and clapping to the music.
Space is tight. Not only in the restaurant, but also behind the bar and in the kitchen.
One plate after the other is going out of the 10m2 kitchen exposed to clients, in which 5 people are preparing outstanding gourmet tapas with incredible efficiency.
The staff is dancing, singing, hugging each other, and having fun between themselves and with clients.
I am guessing they serve around 200 people from this kitchen per night, every night.
Its 11:30pm at night and the kitchen is still in full swing.
The staff has been on shift for more than 7 hours for sure. They seem so happy & content.
One of the chefs in the kitchen is directing a genuine smile at me. Eye contact. A short moment of appreciation for what they do here.
I wish I could put into words the magic that this Team spreads.
I love going there because of the vibe. Yes, the food is outstanding AND I am in absolute awe of the lived team spirit in this high-stress environment.
So what is it that this team has or does & what is NOT creating the TeamMagic?
Let me start with what it is not:
The hour of work
The hours of work
The amount of work
The work environment
The money
(Don’t get me wrong, these things are all important but they are not the key ingredients for TeamMagic)
I have been trying to figure out the recipe for the MAGIC this team spreads on every visit & I found that FUN seems to be THE secret ingredient for this team’s energy. I am not talking about the quarterly off-site event kind-of-fun.
They really have fun in their daily work, and that includes not taking themselves and each other so seriously. Everyone has their role but if someone gets into someone else’s space, they laugh and tease each other too.
In the business environment we tend to think, if we are fun, we are not professional anymore, but the two are not mutually exclusive.
This team has fun, delivers an excellent service to clients, and makes the clients laugh at the same time. The energy is contagious.
What is THE key ingredient to ignite TeamMagic in your view?
Connect if you are ready to increase the fun factor in your team.
Feel, Lead, Belong
MARINA&TEAM
