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Real life lessons on teamwork from fictional heroes

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As an entrepreneur, you can learn a lesson or two from superheroes
power play As an entrepreneur, you can learn a lesson or two from superheroes

Avengers: Age of Ultron, which was released last month, has scored big at the box office, which proves that superheroes remain a relevant factor in movies, television and pop culture.

I recently spoke about the marketing tactics of these movie franchises, which provide superheroes like Iron Man and Captain America with their own Twitter handles. That makes for a great marketing mix and each character has thousands of followers.

While these scenarios certainly showcase the power these characters have had over multiple generations, that same power can be harnessed by entrepreneurs who are building and cultivating their own winning teams in the real world.

What follows are five team strategies that the Avengers, the X-Men and the Fantastic Four – as well as individual superheroes such as the Hulk and Thor – can offer entrepreneurs who want to bring out the best in their teams.

1. Everyone has different talents

The heroes who make up the Avengers are an eclectic bunch – a mix of superpowers and superbrains. The same thought process could apply to your team, in that no two people are the same and no two people have the same skill sets.

When you recognise your team members’ individual strengths and how they work together as a whole, that’s when your team will really win the day.

Your sales-team members may be closing big sales by themselves, but when push comes to shove and one salesperson needs an extra hand, your other salespeople shouldn’t hesitate to step in.

As an entrepreneur, you should find the people who share your vision, complement the skill sets you’re looking for in each individual role and are able to work as part of a unit. Then put them in the right seats on the bus – or in the case of The Avengers, in the helicarrier.

2. Everyone works in different ways

Think of the different players who make up the X-Men superheroes. From Cyclops, Beast and Rogue to Magneto and Professor X, each works in a different way and responds to things individually. When thinking about your team, recognise the different working styles of each team member.

You will have team members, like Professor X, who handle conflict with a calm demeanour and who try to help everyone work together. You’ll also have team members like Mystique, who are easily adaptable and can work in any situation.

Then there are those who mirror Cyclops, who is laser focused on what needs to be done. Because of their laser focus, however, these team members may lose sight of other things going on around them.

When each team member works differently from his or her team-mates, you as the leader (their Professor X) must step up and round up everyone to keep the team moving as a whole in the same direction.

3. Everyone needs different tools for the job

Thor has his hammer; Tony Stark has an assortment of Iron Man suits. Each tool enables its respective superhero to accomplish specific tasks. As an entrepreneur and a leader in your business, you are responsible for giving your team the tools they need to do their jobs well.

For some, that may mean a full Adobe Creative Suite. For others, it’s a tool for Twitter or Facebook, such as oneQube or Smync. Yes, there are costs involved in doing this, but if any specific tool allows your team to get the job done faster and more efficiently, why hold them back by saying no?

That isn’t to say that you should purchase every tool your team suggests. Ensure that team members are using their current tools to the fullest and have them make their case as to why they need something new or additional.

Give your team the power to show you the tools they need to complete their missions. You’re not doing their job every day, so you may not know what’s missing.

4. Be proud (and supportive) of your team member’s differences

No two people on your team are the same. The world would be a boring place if we were all the same. Just as the characters who make up The Avengers are quite different from one another, their differences still count.

There is Thor, who is royalty from a completely different planet. There is Tony Stark, who has no superpowers but is highly intelligent and able to craft things that allow him to save the day. Then there is Bruce Banner, a brilliant scientist who, when angry, turns into the Hulk. Each of these characters is completely opposite to the others, just like your team members, whose differences should be respected.

Whether that means a difference based on religion, nationality, culture, sexual orientation or gender, your team members are unique, gifted individuals and should be celebrated.

5. Ultimately, you’re the leader

Nurture your team members to greatness by keeping in mind their unique skill sets and teaching them to use those tools to the fullest. That’s what great entrepreneurs aspire to do and what superhero leaders do every day. – Entrepreneur.com

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