This week, the United States of America celebrates the July 4, 1776 signing of the Declaration of Independence. That history changing document is a great example of the power of teamwork.
Although the freedom movement had been building for a couple years, formal declaration planning began in earnest on June 7 with a resolution for independence presented by Richard Henry Lee. After some debate, a committee of five was then appointed to draft a statement justifying to the world the desire and need for the colonies’ independence.
Thomas Jefferson, a member of that committee, wrote the first draft. Benjamin Franklin and John Adams edited the draft to its final version as submitted to the Continental Congress for adoption.
The Congress convened on July 1, the Lee Resolution was passed on July 2 and then discussions began about the Declaration. Debate and revisions continued through all of July 3 and into July 4, when it was finally passed. The men signed the document, confirming their unity in agreement with its content.
Like our teams today, those men came from different backgrounds, had different skills and strengths, and had unique points of view. Their ultimate success is because they allowed diverse opinions to be heard in healthy debate and were then able to move as a whole body to agreement. The driving force? A common vision and goal to decry the tyranny of British rule and to declare a country independent of the British crown.
It goes without saying that the 4th of July is more than picnics and parades. I encourage you to take a few minutes on Thursday and read the Declaration of Independence. As you do, consider where we would be if those men had not been able to come together in agreement.
Teamwork is the ability to work together toward a common vision. The ability to direct individual accomplishment toward organizational objectives. It is the fuel that allows common people to attain uncommon results. -Andrew Carnegie
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Tuesday Tidbits are weekly messages I send to my leadership team. They are generally short & sweet, often focused on leadership or teamwork, always positive and, hopefully, motivational. I hope you also find some meaning in them.
