What I Learned About Teams From Smoking
It’s 4am, and I’m awake, sitting outside surrounded by a cloud of wonderful-smelling smoke. No, I’m not getting high. I’m on the night shift, babysitting our enormous beast of a barbecue smoker. Looking around, I can see many columns of smoke rising into the moonlit sky. At this hour, it’s pretty quiet. All I hear is the occasional competitor stirring to put more fuel in their smoker. I’m really hopeful that the temperature gauges on our smoker don’t drop below 225, because that would mean I’d have to add wood to our mammoth cooker. And honestly, I’m afraid I’ll screw it up. As a newbie to KCBS barbecue competitions, the last thing I want to do is mess up the precious meats that have been smoking low and slow ever since Steve Rogers, the pitmaster of our team, prepared them several hours ago.
When I joined the team, I was the new guy, eager but green. I quickly learned that barbecue competitions aren’t just about cooking meat; they’re about teamwork. Around the same time, I was reading Jim Collins’ “Good to Great” and learning about the concept of getting the right people on the bus and in the right seats. Steve, the pitmaster and owner of the team, invited me to join. Obviously, we all knew the pitmaster was the boss. That seat on the bus was taken. Beyond that, it was pretty casual. The other three or four of us pitched in wherever needed. In other words, the other seats weren’t defined. It was a bit awkward for me since I like to know what’s expected of me. I want to know my job so I can do it well.
Initially, I struggled to figure out how I could best contribute. Then, I found my place—in the most unexpected way. The team was great at making incredible food but equally bad at washing dishes. It seemed there was an unspoken expectation that everyone would just “kinda pitch in” with the dishes. It wasn’t working. At first, I pitched in with washing up because, frankly, I didn’t want to eat food made with dirty utensils and cookware. (I'm a bit OCD about cleanliness, but I digress...) Eventually, I embraced the opportunity. I told the team to just leave the dirty stuff for me, and I’d handle it. Nobody fought me for that seat.
Washing dishes at barbecue competitions turned out to be more challenging than I expected. Hot water was hard to come by, and it’s essential for cleaning seriously dirty pots, pans, and grill grates. So, I told the boss what I needed. At the next competition, he showed up with a gas burner and a five-gallon pot—my own makeshift water heater! I continued to hone my craft with each competition, and soon I had a fully equipped outdoor washing station that cranked out tools and utensils so clean they deserved their own awards.
Defining that role taught me something important about teams. Even in settings like barbecue competitions, every team benefits when roles are clear and everyone knows how they can contribute. My experience as the “Sanitation Engineer” didn’t just help keep our team running smoothly; it reinforced a principle that I’ve carried into my professional life: finding your seat on the bus can make all the difference.
In work and in life, roles aren’t always assigned—sometimes you have to step up and define your own. The pitmaster didn’t tell me to take over dishwashing, but by embracing that need, I removed a stressor and contributed to a more efficient overall process. This lesson translates far beyond barbecue. Whether you’re part of a corporate team, a non-profit, or a small business, identifying how you can uniquely contribute helps the team thrive. And sometimes, the most impactful roles aren’t glamorous—they’re the ones that remove roadblocks and create space for others to shine. By doing so, you help elevate the entire team, fostering collaboration and efficiency. It’s a reminder that true leadership isn’t always about taking the spotlight; it’s often about enabling others to succeed and ensuring the team’s success as a whole.
Try Steve’s BBQ for Yourself!
If you’re ever in the Baltimore, MD area, drive out to Hampstead and enjoy some award winning barbecue! You won’t be disappointed!
Outlaw BBQ Smokehouse
1300 N Main St, Hampstead, MD 21074