Note: This is the fifth in a series of posts about what is needed on an innovative team. Previous posts were on humility, discipline, inquisitiveness and empathy.
They said it wasn’t possible to bring soldiers and their families from Walter Reed to Liberty Mountain Resort for a weekend of skiing and fun. My mom proved them wrong. My dad was in the Navy supply corps and if they needed something anywhere in the world, he found it. His approach was more subtle than mom’s but no less effective. I think it’s fair to say that hustle comes to me naturally.
Hustle is all about creativity and determination. It’s finding another way when the conventional path is blocked. It’s knowing when to charm, when to needle, when to escalate and when to throw down. It’s not getting stuck or frustrated when things aren’t going the way you wanted them do.
So when you’re building your team look for people who:
- Are resilient to change and challenges
- Build relationships before they need them
- Understand and navigate bureaucracy
- Can come up with crafty and unique solutions to problems
- Aren’t afraid to talk to just about anyone
Image: Beijing National Stadium, also known as the Bird’s Nest, on a chilly day a few years ago. The vendors were still pushing Olympic merchandise years after the event.