In 2011, my family and I travelled to Australia with Tom Ziglar and his daughter Alexandra. My nickname for Tom was “boss,” and he called me by that nickname as well. Of course, people in Australia call one another “mate,” so Tom and I began calling one another “boss mate” on that trip. As we began to think about the difference between a boss and a leader, we changed it to “leader mate.”
A mate helps you. A mate is there for you when you need him or her. Everyone in the company is a leader because everyone has influence in one another’s life. So be a leader mate to others, instead of a boss.
My experience tells me that when you hire the right people, show interest in them, and intentionally help them reach their goals personally and professionally, most often they will want to help you reach your goals as well.
Alcoholics Anonymous involves a strong sense of community, and each individual has a sponsor—someone to support him or her. In fact, AA was started by two men who simply began by supporting one another.
You can begin your journey of building a phenomenal community experience in your company by simply finding someone in your company to support. Find a mate. Be a mate.
