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24 R INK MAGAZ INE July/August 2011 STARrinks.com of her field, or just someone whose approach to life you admire — you are moved to a higher level of contribution and achievement. These roles will often cross. In fact, people who can play more than one role on your team are often your strongest supporters. Now notice who is not on this list: • Friends. Friendship is not a requirement of your dream team. Chances are you will see your members as friends, and your friends may become members of your team. But you can also learn from people you hardly know and may not even enjoy. • Yes-Men and -Women. Do not put people on your dream team who will only tell you what you want to hear. You already have your own opinions. Your dream team is meant to supplement (not rubber-stamp) them. • Your Boss. Just because bosses manage your position doesn't mean they can help develop your gifts. They may. They may not. You decide. The diversity of your dream team is essential. Cover as many bases as you can in terms of gender, age, race and station in life. Your eyes will be opened to new perspectives that will enhance your learning. Look, too, for diversity of "gifts." People who are powerful, political, compassionate, intelligent, international, local, aggressive, spiritual and reassuring can all add special value. So long as there's chemistry, the more wildly-diverse combination of traits you can cover in your dream team, the better. Of course, you can't get all of that in one person. That's why it's a team. 3. Set the "rules" The "rules" of your dream team game are how you want to play. If you don't set up the process in a way you'll enjoy it, you'll be less likely to see it through. For example, you might look for opportunities for informal conversation "when the time is right." Or you might prefer a formal introduction with a letter and a follow-up phone call. Or you might arrange meetings according to each member's choice (e.g. five minutes in the office of one, a 15-minute phone call with another, a meeting over lunch with a third). It's a good idea to decide how you want the process to play out so you put your best foot forward and feel comfortable along the way. 4. Define a "win" What is the best-case scenario for this dream team? In other words, what will define a "win?" Are you hoping to develop long-term relationships? Do you just want a lot of information fast? Do you want complex information and are willing to talk to as many people as it takes to get there? This step is important, because it respects the time of the leaders whose advice you're seeking while also meeting the goals that matter most to you. If what you want is concrete advice on how to set up a sole proprietorship, you can get it in a series of short, one-shot interviews. On the other hand, if you want to become steeped in the culture of high-quality leadership, you'll want to develop deeper, more substantial relationships with the people whose work you admire. 5. Get in the game! "Getting in the game" means approaching the people you admire to be on your team – asking them to meet with you, talking to them and applying what you learn as you work toward your vision. If a meeting with one of your dream team members turns out to be beneficial, great. Ask them if they would mind meeting again. If not, fine. Some of these conversations will turn out to be a waste of time. Others will turn into the kinds of mentorships that last a lifetime. Remember, the work you do with your dream team is not pandering or political maneuvering. There should be nothing in this process that smacks of manipulation. These are genuine, respectful conversations with people you admire to request the support you would be willing to give someone who asked it of you. Dream Big Over time, you'll find that your dream team project becomes a practice. You will make meeting with inspirational leaders and role models a part of your own personal develop- ment, because you will see that you can achieve more, and faster, when you are supported by a strong and experienced team. With the help of your dream team, you'll quickly create the personal and professional life of your dreams. ★ Joelle K. Jay, Ph.D. (http://joellekjay.com/) is an executive coach specializing in leadership development and the author of The Inner Edge: The 10 Practices of Personal Leadership, which shows leaders how to improve their effectiveness by learning to lead themselves. Her newsletter, The Inner Edge Quarterly, offers articles, exercises, tips, quotes and success stories from real leaders to help you excel. To register, please visit TheInnerEdge.com and click on Newsletter, or email Info@TheInnerEdge.com. "DREAM TEAM" To Advance Your Career Use Your The diversity of your dream team is essential. Cover as many bases as you can in terms of gender, age, race and station in life.

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