A good team is a group of people who have a common goal and a way of working together that they all understand. Members of a good team hold themselves accountable for delivering what they promise. In the best teams I have worked in you can see and feel that happening: people openly supporting each other and constructively challenging each other when things get really tough.
There are some great examples of volunteer teams here in Haddington, the Hidden Toun- the Pipe Band and Blooming Haddington have been recognised as national winners, and have lots of local admirers. We all have the same goal- to make Haddington better and better known.
Lots of teams work hard and deserve recognition for their work as parents with schools and in our sports clubs and community. If you are part of such a team you’ll know when it’s really powerful and achieving.
But, I think we need more ‘teamworking’- teams pulling together to solve problems and make decisions about Haddington’s future, to make Haddington a better place to live, work, visit and play
It’s easy to knock other folk for not doing something, or for not doing enough, but that kind of ‘blame culture’ doesn’t help build positive relationships between teams. Why would I want to work alongside somebody who criticises and hasn’t bothered to talk or listen to me, to understand my point of view or share my vision? Let’s listen more…
There are lots of informal networks in the town, and they are already essential for getting on with things: daily working on important projects. Spreading new ideas through them , and experimenting with new ideas requires help and encouragement.
Good teams need thinkers, leaders, carers and and doers- so if you have any ideas about making a difference to Haddington, want to do something, take the lead because you care enough about our town and surroundings, get in touch with me, the Area Partnership or the CDT and let’s pull together.
There are real challenges and opportunities. New funding for the Corn Exchange, more families joining our community, better bus links from Edinburgh…we can encourage folk to visit the best small town in Scotland, use our High St shops, and local pubs and restaurants and admire the best small town in Scotland.
Nobody’s perfect but a team can be…
John McMillan – Provost of East Lothian