Well, well, I see that Allen Cole started a blog. He has 2 interesting entries about the wild state of the Internet. Be sure to check it out.

Thoughts on Teamwork

I enjoyed reading Pete's reflections on working together and the "Art of Innovation". Pete also passed along a chapter from "The Art of Innovation" that I read early this morning. It has gotten me thinking.

I am intrigued by several of the ideas in the book. The first important idea is getting rid of "they" in our organization. A few years back I took a class that examined conflict and how to deal with it. The text identified "Group Think" as as an effective tool used in terrorist groups. Recruits are attracted to these groups by becoming the "we" and by indentifying everyone else as "they".

Conflict is generated in this way. If strife is your goal, creating the 'They" works very well. It is imperitive that we drive "they" out of UEN.

Another important concept is brought out in a story about Lou Holtz. Lou states that each year his College Football teams change personnel. However, there are three questions that each new recruit needs answered. These are along the lines of 1. Do you care about me? 2. Can I trust you? and 3. Are you committed to the success of the team?

Great questions. There must be no doubt in anyone's mind about the answers. YES, YES , and YES. Any other answer, or any doubt, and you lose the recruit. What's worse, if there is doubt in the workplace then open rebellion or subtle anarchy will destroy the environment. And then nothing gets done.

One last thought about teams for today. Often when I hear people talk about teams in is in some strange abstract. It's as if, to join at team, you must give up your identity. We tend to equate teams with bland sameness. Nothing could be farther from the truth.

One essential question that each person must ask is, "What do I bring to the team". This is not a simple question and the answer should be thoughtful. Our considerations position us to contribute effectively and quickly to a team environment. This answer also will help to convince us of the value we bring. And help us understand and believe in our ability to make a difference.

I've often watched very qualified, talented people get buried in the dynamics of a team. It's easy to do. We have all been on teams with talented people. This can be extremely intimidating, even to the most competent of us.

To succeed every team member must understand that their input is essential. What's more, each team member has to know the HOW of their contribution. This is the only way to succeed in today's competitive environment. Jack Welch says it best in the book "Control Your Destiny or Someone Else Will".

He states that every employee must give 100% for the company to really be successful. Anything less by anyone will result in failure. The landscape of competition today is just too brutal.

So, when we consider teamwork we must consider these things. What do we bring to the team? How will we make sure that we are contributors? How do we encourage others to give their best performances?

We must also acknowledge that our input is essential to success. But no more or less than the input of each team member. That is the essence of "working together to get things done".

That's all for now..........
8:58:52 PM    comment []