36 ‘C’-crets of successful teamwork

Bismillah, alhamdulillah

Ever wanted to stop that routine job you are doing and start a business? Or start a group to do something useful in life, parent-teachers association, charity club etc. Perhaps the wages are not good, the lifestyle not what you want, the freedom to live according to your schedule rather than be at the beck and call of others, an impulse to help others. Whatever the reason is or isn’t, the next step is to think about how you would do it. Solo, partnership, limited company etc. The list of possibilities can be confusing and the two that seem intuitive to most people are either going solo or doing it together with others. It is the second that I wish to share my 36 ‘C’-crets about.

Not really a mnemonic fan but finding them sometimes useful I wondered if I could put enough words beginning with the letter ‘C’ to describe what are the key ingredients to a successful partnership. I don’t think these are just applicable to partnerships in business but any endeavour in which people work together in teams. As my source of inspiration I have drawn upon the world’s greatest example of teamwork, the life and times of Muhammad (peace be upon him) and his ‘co-workers’, the Companions.

Caution	In balanced measure to avoid being reckless but not too much to avoid being timid.
Challenge	All the team members, let everyone feel they can hold the others to account and give them the space to do so. The so called 360 degree feedback.
Chance	Exploiting chances when they arise.
Clarity	Of what is expected. Why are you doing this? What are the main aims? Money, quality of life, altruism, Allah?
Class	A touch of class – your USP (Unique Selling Point)
Cognizance	Of the idea, preferably through your own experience in such a field.
Co-location	For an idea to take off face to face interaction between team members is best.
Combative	spirit to fight and struggle against the barriers that inevitably occur.
Combustion	Money that needs to be burned before the business is self supporting. You need to keep your business, self, family going through the initial lean times. Somewhere around 2 years.
Comfort	Of knowing you have the support of those near and dear. If your wife is dead against the idea – think again.
Commitment	100% – No backing out. Burn your boat, no going back. Have a do-or-die mentality.
Communication	Channels between team members should be open and it should be regular. No going off and doing your own thing
Companions	Want for your brother what you want for yourself. Think about your team members and they will think of you.
Compatibility	Are the team members compatible? Choose carefully when you start, you might be great in limited situations but when the going gets tough you’ll really find out who you are dealing with. Acid tests: do business with a guy, travel with him, be his neighbour. This was the advice given by the second Caliph Umar.
Competition	Knowing the competition inside out, but not overstepping the boundaries.
Complete	Transparency 100% transparency required in business dealings with the team members especially where money is involved.
Compliant	Is the idea halaal (legal)?
Compos Mentis et Valetudo	Sound of health and mind, business is very stressful, best done if your fit and well.
Comprehension	Thorough comprehension of the task involved and its requirements.
Concentration	No multiple ideas. KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid principle), start simple and build up.
Confession	In your own weaknesses.
Confidence	In your idea and your own willingness to succeed
Confidential	Don’t tell the world until you are ready.
Conscience	of Allah’s laws and the rights of fellow man.
Consensus	Don’t ram rod your ideas on others, get them on board and listen. In your meetings ask yourself ‘Am I listening or am I waiting to speak?’
Consistency	Of effort of work. Remember the last 20% of effort will take 80% of your time.
Contingency	Planning, what to do if things go wrong.
Control	Believing that the locus of control i.e. the ability to change starts with you and is not in someone else’s hands. What a friend of mine called tawakkul juice.
Conviction	Of Allah’s help.
Cooperation	Obvious but true!
Cordiality	Partners fall out, the best get back together and become stronger.
Courage	In leaping into the unknown
Courtesy	To all those around you – co-worker, competitors and customers. Good manners can win the world.
Co-vision	No pulling in different directions.
Crafty	Ready to change or add ideas depending on opportunities.
Cultivation	of new ideas, talent and the next generation.