💡 War Teams

There is no 9-5 work in a war zone. Part time effort does not lead to extraordinary results.

In 1994, we were entering the third year of the siege of Sarajevo. A Catholic Relief Services team in Sarajevo was helping people survive while restoring civil society and building a trauma counseling network.

• Work required crossing the check points between the Bosnian and Serbian controlled areas, often at gunpoint.

We supported each other as teammates and as people. Often beyond the work hours and requirements.

• One evening, we got stuck in a sniper attack taking a team member home after work.
• We almost got killed.
• It took actions beyond our regular duties to get out to safety.

Nobody had previous experience. Skills we had in peace had to be converted into a context of war.

• We all had our unique talents, personalities and genius.
• We were committed to our mission, and to each other.

The bottom line: We did whatever we needed to do to accomplish the mission.

🧠 Beyond skills: Understanding the whole person

At work, miscommunication often mirrors personal relationships—like speaking different languages.

Why it matters: Most teams only focus on the cognitive part of the mind —skills, experience and education.

• There are two other parts!
• Affective elements include motivations, attitudes, and beliefs that shape how we see ourselves.
• Conative factors involve our actions and behaviors, driving how we achieve tasks. It is how we act in our genius.

The bottom line: If you stop at a resume, you are missing 2/3 of the person! Embracing all three dimensions elevates the talent and potential of the team.

🏆Engage the Whole Person to Win

As leaders of teams that lead themselves, we must:

Know our people.

• Understand what is important to them and why?
• How do they express their genius?

Share this knowledge across the team.

Make reads and adjustments to elevate team performance and win.