At CTP, we get hired to help our clients solve some really challenging public
cloud issues. To do that, we evaluate the requirements from the client and put
together the best possible team of rockstars with complementary skills to
deliver value in the most effective way possible. These skills vary from organi-
zational change management to cloud architecture to software development
to security and governance, risk and compliance.
Motivation
One of the most important aspects of creating an environment where the
rockstars flourish is the ability to motivate and inspire the team. When asked
the question of motivation, some of the immediate reactions tend to go toward
compensation. Of course we all work for a living, and compensation is an
incredibly important part, but motivating the team of rockstars is not simply
about the money.
Rockstars want to feel like they are making a difference. They want to know
their hard work is actually contributing to some greater purpose. That’s where
the company’s mission and the team’s goals come into play. One of the biggest
motivators for successful teams is understanding and awareness of how their
work contributes to the bigger picture.
High performers like to work towards outcomes and deadlines and prefer
autonomy. They like the flexibility and freedom to deliver expected results (the
new story) instead of just coming to work 9-5 and do what they can while being
micromanaged (the old story). They want to create new “stuff” instead of sim-
ply maintaining and fixing the existing mess.
Keeping the Score
“If You're Not Keeping Score, You're Just Practicing”. I think Vince Lombardi is
spot on here. No matter how good the team is, its accomplishments and prog-
ress should be measured and direction adjusted accordingly. We can talk about
flexibility, creativity, motivation and inspiration all day long; however, if the
team is fully inspired, yet runs around in circles while the other team (or com-
pany) is running up the score, somebody should inject a dose of reality into the
situation. Keeping score keeps everyone honest.
Real rockstar teams check their egos at the door, giving and receiving feedback
constructively because they understand that the feedback is the mechanism
14 | THE DOPPLER | SPRING 2018