As I ponder this question, Eric Church’s song “Solid” inevitably begins to play in my head.
Many people know this song from the popular “Built to Serve” Ram Truck commercials.
“Solid” is a statement on the power of inner strength. It’s about believing in the core of who you are and overcoming insecurity by recognizing the value of stability.
You may think I’m way too chill
But I get it done, got my daddy’s will
And I’ll always, I’ll always keep a promise
The song’s lyrics convey the value the singer places on stability as he reflects on various components of his life, such as the vehicle he drives:
This ol’ thing I drive around
Got some rust, makes some funny sounds
But it’s paid for and solid
And the clothes he wears:
Got these 501’s back in ’93
Yeah, the blue’s all gone, you can see my knees
But to me man, they’re still solid
My watch may be scratched and faded, but like the vehicle and clothes referenced in Eric Church’s song, my watch gets the job done. It’s functional. It’s dependable. It’s solid.
People often attach the label solid to good teammates. Solid means firm, stable, and consistent. When it comes to work ethic, productivity, loyalty, integrity, etc., good teammates are firm, stable, and consistent. In other words, they’re solid.
Succumbing to the notion of my watch needing to be replaced just because it wasn’t shiny and new says more about my insecurities than it does about the condition of my watch.
The same is true of team leaders who discount the value solid teammates bring to their teams. These are teammates who might not be particularly flashy, produce the best statistics, or possess the most noticeable physical attributes but consistently get the job done.
Their value to their teams lies in their consistency.
Good team leaders, and good teammates, cannot allow themselves to succumb to the effects of Shiny Object Syndrome—the psychological phenomenon of being distracted by a belief that there is something new worth pursuing.
Before chasing after the “greener” grass or convincing yourself that a change is needed, take a moment to consider the value you place on consistency and stability. It might simply be time for you to abandon your insecurities and recognize the merits of being solid.
Successful teams are built on the solid foundations of solid teammates.
As always…Good teammates care. Good teammates share. Good teammates listen. Go be a good teammate.
