The Power of Teamwork by Maggie Craddock

Few people realize that a group can accomplish what an individual alone cannot do — even when it comes to individual advancement. If you want the next promotion, you have to elbow that hardworking colleague next to you out of the way, right? Wrong. Here’s a true story that shows you why.

It started when I sat across from three courteous, poised, but frustrated female investment bankers over a decade ago.

“We need a coach,” said the young banker named Cindy (names have been changed), while her colleagues Leslie and Amy nodded in agreement.

“It’s not just the three of us,” Leslie added. “The three of us are the selection committee. There are fifteen of us who want coaching, and our job is to pick a coach that can work with the whole group.”

​As it turned out, all fifteen members of the group had been passed over for promotion within the last year. Amy said, “We don’t want to litigate, and we don’t want to change firms. We like each other, and we like working here. However, we don’t want to be overlooked anymore. If someone can tell us what it takes to get ahead, we’re ready to do it.”

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