More Than Words

Around the Learning Centre at Aviva in Perth, we have a number of different games available for delegates to use during breaks.

They are not just there to fill time. They are there to help people connect, build relationships of trust, and create the kind of informal networks that often make learning much more meaningful.

Last week, something happened that brought a real smile to my face.

For the first time that I’d witnessed, rather than disappearing into emails or scrolling through messages on their phones, a few delegates from our  Lead the Way cohort gathered around a Scrabble board.

It wasn’t long before others joined in.

There was laughter, gentle competition, a little negotiation over whether certain words really counted, and plenty of encouragement when someone found a particularly good one.

It was a simple activity, but it reminded me of something important about leadership.

Strong teams are not only built in the formal sessions, meetings and workshops.

They are also built in the spaces in between.

Over a cup of tea, a can of Irn-Bru or a Tunnock’s Tea Cake.
Around a table.
Through a shared laugh.
One word at a time.

And perhaps there was another lesson in the game itself.

Everyone had different letters to work with. Some looked more useful than others. Yet the real value came when people connected what they had with what was already on the board.

Leadership is often like that.

We do not all bring the same strengths, experiences or perspectives. But when we create the right environment, everyone can contribute something meaningful.

Sometimes the best conversations, connections and lessons don’t occur in the training room, they happen when it’s time to take a break.

What are you doing to create space for connection in the teams you lead?