Lessons From the Duke

Lessons From The Duke

Build an all-star team through personal development, accountability and mentorship

by/ BRIAN TOLSON, CPL 
AAPL Secretary and Partner and Senior Landman at Equitas Energy Partners LLC

This article appeared in the May/June 2024 issue of the Landman magazine.

“A man’s got to have a code, a creed to live by, no matter his job.” 

— John Wayne

Have you ever heard the statement, “You are who you surround yourself with”? If you don’t take this to heart, I truly believe life will be an uphill battle! So here is my take on how to create an all-star team within your organization. 

Building an all-star team is an endeavor that requires encouraging personal development outside the workplace, fostering a culture of accountability and embracing the wisdom shared by the mentors within an organization. My goal here is to outline how personal development, accountability and mentorship are interrelated. 

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT OUTSIDE THE 8-5

Have you ever been excited about the success a team member has had in their personal life?

Encouraging personal development outside the office can be extremely rewarding for the entire team! When individuals invest time in themselves developing skills, pursuing passions or learning about new topics, it contributes to a more dynamic and versatile team. In my opinion, personal development inspires adaptability, resilience and a larger sense of purpose, which are all essential for building reliable people. 

ACCOUNTABILITY

Have you ever been part of a team where someone didn’t carry their own weight?

Never, right?

Building reliability is intrinsically tied to accountability. I think every team member must take ownership of their responsibilities. Having a culture of accountability not only enhances individual performance, but it also contributes to the overall reliability of the organization.           

“When you come against trouble, it’s never half as bad if you face up to it.” 

— John Wayne

Not to squirrel off too much, but over the years, I have coached many of my kids’ sports teams, and I believe we as parents have the responsibility to instill accountability in our youth. My goal is always to make the kids better leaders and better teammates as they grow up. So to accomplish this task, every year I have made it a point to push “accountability” as a key part of our team’s success. Each year it has been so rewarding to see kids accept this mindset by not only being personally accountable but also holding each other accountable. 

Each of these teams has been unique but most have won a championship! While this outstanding record has boosted my confidence as a coach — and potentially put me in the company of greats like Vince Lombardi, Bear Bryant, Phil Jackson and Mike Krzyzewski, hopefully — the big win is these successes burn an accountability mindset into their memory forever. 

SEASONED MINDS 

Senior members of an organization or experienced mentors bring a wealth of knowledge that extends beyond training programs and textbooks. Encouraging your team to actively seek opportunities to learn from these seasoned minds is a powerful strategy for team building. Mentorship programs like the one offered by AAPL, or even an informal one, will help provide a platform for the transfer of valuable knowledge from lessons learned the hard way, which can significantly contribute to the adaptability of the team. 

THE VALUE OF FAILURES

Maybe one more: 

“What’s the secret of success? Right decisions. How do you make right decisions? Experience. How do you get experience? Wrong decisions.” 

— John Wayne

Reliability is not just about meeting expectations; it’s also about learning and adapting.   Celebrate successes as a team and use failures, preferably after the smoke settles, as opportunities for growth. Create an environment where team members feel comfortable sharing their experiences, both positive and negative, and learn how to leverage them as lessons to help everyone move forward.

By actively promoting development of professional and personal passions, cultivating a sense of accountability and hosting opportunities to learn from each another, you will be able to enjoy the benefits of surrounding yourself with people who not only meet expectations but routinely surpass them.

Lastly, if you haven’t seen an old John Wayne movie in a while, go find you one!