Over the past few weeks, I have traveled to various cities across the country speaking with incoming freshmen about college success, personal success, and leadership success. During these amazing moments with diverse groups of students, not only have I talked with them about using college as a launching pad for career success, but one of the things I shared with them was the importance of developing a Dream Team!
Developing a Dream Team is a concept that I learned from Dr. Valerie Rowe several years ago and it consists of a group of mentors, peer mentors, friends, and relationship partners who support, empower, and help you make your dream or vision a reality. In essence, your Dream Team not only helps you make your dream or vision a reality, but it’s your support group who is currently doing what you want to do in life, people who share the same passion as you in school, and people who you consider to be family and friends.
I explained to them the importance of a dream team because I have found that every successful person in life had someone in their corner that helped them become successful. I then revealed to them that studies show that approximately 60% of jobs come from personal relationships with others and surrounding yourself with the right people makes a huge difference on reaching your fullest potential in life. Furthermore, I also let them know that having the right Dream Team would make a huge impact on their personal growth in life, it would increase their sense of belonging as a new college student which is important, and certain opportunities that they have the chance to experience in life would manifest because of their Dream Team. And finally, I talked with them about the keys to maximizing their college experience, personal satisfaction, and career success after graduation.
To help these students become more effective in choosing the right people for their Dream Team, I also shared with them a set of questions that every individual must consider when they are creating their Dream Team. Based on the positive feedback that I received from these simple questions shared with these incoming freshmen, I wanted to take time to provide you with four questions I believe we should all consider when we are forming are Dream Team.
Does the Person Possess a Positive Attitude/Perspective?
The first question that I challenged the incoming students to consider when creating their Dream Team is, does the person possess the right attitude and perspective? In effect, I explained to them that before you make someone a part of your Dream Team, you should evaluate their attitude and perspective.
The reason why I challenged each student to consider these points as they create their Dream Team is because I have found that one’s attitude and perspective affects how they will treat us in various situations and circumstances and the type of impact they will have on our life.
In essence, if someone has a negative attitude/perspective, their negative attitude/perspective will affect you, if it’s positive, that positive attitude/perspective will affect you as well. Therefore, if we desire to attain college, personal, and career success, we need more positive people influencing us, and less negative energy.
Does the Person Possess Positive Communication Skills?
The second question that I challenged the incoming students to consider as they create their Dream Team is, does the person possess positive communication skills? In effect, does the person communicate respectfully? Does the person uplift and inspire you while in conversation? Is the person authentic? Does the person possess great listening skills? Can you have difficult conversations with this person? and Do your conversations with this person leave you in a better position?
The reason why I challenged each student to consider these points with their Dream Team is because I have found that communication skills not only affect your relationship with others, but it can be the determining factor between positive or negative relationships. And ultimately, this is why many relationship coaches and experts agree that communication is one of the most important aspects of a healthy, productive, and positive relationship.
Does the Person Have Good Character?
The third question that I challenged the incoming students to consider when they are creating their Dream Team is, does the person have good the character? In effect, what are the values of the person that affect their behavior and character.
Some of the reasons why I challenged each student to consider this with their Dream Team is because I have found that a person’s values not only give us a glimpse of how a person will perform in various circumstances and situations, but our values affect our character, and in most relationships, our character and values have a huge impact on the type of relationship that will be created between two people.
Consequently, this is why many relationship experts and coaches encourage people to learn about the values of someone else before they engage in a serious relationship because our values are the determining factors of the relationships and friendships we create with others.
Does the Person Possess Positive Actions?
The fourth question that I challenged the incoming students to consider when they are creating their Dream Team is, does the person possess positive actions? In essence, does the person keep their word? Does the person express positive behaviors? Do the person’s actions positively impact you? Does the person’s action align with their words? and Does the person’s actions inspire you?
Some of the reasons why I challenged each student to consider this with their Dream Team is because I have found that a person’s actions are not only more powerful than their words, but regardless of what someone says to us, their actions have the most influence and impact on our lives. This is why Steven Covey, author of “Seven Habits of Highly Effective People ” states, “Your actions are more powerful than your words” because he understands the power of our actions.
Joshua Fredenburg is a friend of Omicron Delta Kappa and a nationally acclaimed speaker, author of five books, member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc., Tedx Speaker, and President of the ‘Award Winning Circle of Change Leadership Experience that specializes in providing emerging and seasoned leaders with the leadership skills necessary to lead effectively in a diverse world and make a positive impact in their community, nation, and world.
