In a meeting room, we sat next to each other facing representatives of an external company. “This is my colleague, Zahraa”, my teammate introduced me as the meeting started. Amidst the business chatter, my mind wandered off echoing one word in my head: colleague. I didn’t like the sound of that word. It made me feel so alien to someone I, contrastingly, feel connected to. It sounded formal, dry and insincere.
The next day, him and I accompanied by the rest of our team members and our boss, sat together in a team meeting. I truly enjoy those! I often sit back quietly while my head buzzes with ideas. I looked around and I found a group of amazing individuals, one common goal, and a shared drive towards creating impact. I saw a leader navigating through challenges towards one direction, and looking to impact the map of a whole country. I looked into the faces around the room, and I didn’t see any “colleague”. In fact, I didn’t see seven individuals, because they all melt together into one: a team. And THIS word, I like the sound of.
“Team” is not just a word. To me, it’s a feeling. It’s when we are all one, and when the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. When I look back at that meeting room, I find that personalities and behavioral styles of team members take a backseat when a supporting context, one compelling direction, and a shared mindset are set forth. That is when members are no longer merely “colleagues”, and instead, a “team” comes into being. So, hey, don’t call me colleague!
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A wonderful team has inspired this. And it was written uncensored and unrevised on my last day at Tamkeen before I fly across the world for a new venture. Overwhelmed with a wave of emotions, but one thing is certain, they will hold a place dear to me because, hell, that’s my “team”! <3
