Electrifying Growth Episode 8: Pride, Poise, and Team with US Army Veteran Colonel Greg Gadson

Colonel Greg Gadson has an extraordinary story. Now wheelchair-bound after suffering near-fatal injuries while serving in Iraq in 2007, the Colonel is proving that pride, poise, and teamwork are not only the things that saved his life, but also have influenced the thousands that have come in contact with him and his story since.

Through his conversation with Edison Partners, he explains why pride, poise, and especially teamwork is vital for getting through adversity. 

So how do we practice pride, poise, and teamwork? Here’s the rundown:

1. Establish a culture of resilience and perseverance.

Establishing this type of culture starts with setting an example with your own attitudes and behavior. A leader should showcase these traits by taking initiative, staying positive in difficult situations, and remaining humble under any circumstance. 

“...It was a low point for me. The thing that got me through was resilience and

perseverance. My poise stopped me from quitting when I really wanted to.”

Strive to create a culture of emphasizing poise. Set the example of persevering when things go wrong. By taking the time to foster this, a leader can create an organization that is focused on achieving its goals and helping its members grow and succeed.

2. Develop humility and poise, and team spirit.

Developing humility, poise, and team spirit is an important part of becoming a successful leader. In order to do this, it is important to foster a sense of collaboration, support, and respect within your team. 

Value each other, work together, support each other, and correct each other's flaws in a humble way.

“The thing that bonds us all together is holding each other accountable for our pride,

character of poise, and realizing that everyone on the team is equally important.”

Colonel Greg Gadson explains that as a team, if we mess up we need to hold each other accountable for it. You only become better if you allow others to correct yourself. It’s not being rude, they’re not trying to degrade you—it’s constructive criticism for you, so you can get better.

Empower each other so you can be successful.

3.Emphasize the importance of respect and diversity.

Emphasizing the importance of respect and diversity is essential in order to create a successful and effective team. Respect and diversity should be celebrated and appreciated, and members of the team should be encouraged to bring their unique backgrounds and perspectives to the table. This can be done through:

1. Facilitating conversations between team members

2. Creating a feedback and recognition system

3. Providing resources to help members of the team learn about different cultures

Greg emphasized that it is essential to be humble and to listen to the experiences of those around you. We must recognize the value of each individual and to foster an environment of inclusion.

For more on how to create teams that thrive on pride, poise, and teamwork, listen in to this week’s episode of Electrifying Growth, and hear Colonel Gadson’s extraordinary story in his own words.