The Spinning Wheels Principle

“Never spin your wheels for more than 10 minutes.”

This is first piece of advice we give new hires when they start at our agency – and probably the most valuable. It’s also the advice I wish I’d been given (or perhaps more accurately been open to receiving) at the beginning of my career.

Back then, I believed that to show any sign of weakness was a personal failure – and that things were only ready to share with anyone once they were perfect – or at least as perfect as I could possibly make them on my own. It started a pattern of ‘going it alone’, ‘pushing through’ and ‘faking it until you make it’ that, in hindsight, both hindered my growth and led to an incredible amount of stress. Most significantly, it fostered a habit I’m still trying to break of resisting asking for and receiving help.

But, thankfully, that has not been the case for my team. The “never spin your wheels” principle (combined with their humility, generosity and growth mindset) has not only saved countless hours of wasted effort and frustration, but it’s also led to the exponentially better results that only collaboration enables. Most importantly, it has created a team dynamic where no one is afraid to ask for help and everyone is always willing to provide it. When we ask team members to describe our culture, the very first thing they mention is the unyielding support of each and every team member.

What’s the piece of advice you’ve given to new employees that you’ve found to be the most transformative? (Or wish you’d been given?)