Everyone team member should wear a boa!
There’s a purple boa in my office. It’s not my Halloween costume; nor am I a Drag Queen in my spare time. But there is a story about that boa. A story of friendship.
Several years ago I called my friend Sherry and suggested she gather some friends, I gather some friends, and we go play in my favorite US city for a weekend – New Orleans.
And so we went a gathering. We met at the New Orleans airport and started our journey into the French Quarter by stretch limo.
Eight of us spent a weekend laughing, eating, listening to great music, shopping and doing what so many people do in New Orleans…….(fill in your own blank).
One night, walking down Bourbon Street, I noticed there was a group of people wearing matching shirts. Another group was wearing matching hats. A third wearing matching outfits. I began to wonder if they did this to help find their drunk comrades later that evening or if it was about friendship, team spirit, company camaraderie, they lost a bet or they were family? Whatever, it was clear the attire bonded the group; and people like me were curious.
I was jealous. Envious. I wanted to play. I wanted to have fun too. I wanted people to know my group. But more importantly, I wanted my group – still strangers to each other - to get to know each other better.
And then I spotted them……………….BOAS!
Hmm…………I wonder if they would all want to buy…. FORGET THAT!
I ran into the store. I bought eight different colored boas. When I emerged from the store the looks from the group were priceless. Everything from Yay! to….. I hope he doesn’t think I am going to wear that! I started passing them out; placing them around necks.
Eight people; one strange; some fun; some conservative; one VERY conservative. A few minutes later these eight people who were brought together for a weekend of fun became instant best of friends. Marching down the streets in our boas people were pointing, laughing, and asking us to pose. Even the most conservative was having a good time. Instantly, any differences that existed between the eight of us disappeared.
So what does this all mean?
Look around your organization. People come from all walks of life; different backgrounds, religions, races, political views, etc. But there is always a way to bring people to a common place.
Maybe you need to go buy some boas and have some fun. Or hats?
