Teams that Work
To be part of a team means to join together in a cooperative effort; to have a shared set of rules; to have a shared goal. Anyone who has the experience of being in a dysfunctional team has experienced waking up in a cold sweat. Those who have had the experience of being in a great team have experienced magic.
Teams, in this context, should not be confused with a group of people who simply happen to work together. The sharing of a common goal is an essential part of what makes a team. Teams can often cut across the various segments or divisions of an organization.
In most organizations groups of individuals come together as teams in response to specific projects. Some individuals will be on more than one team at a time. Any given team may be made of people who have worked together before or of people who are new to each other.
The most common problems encountered by teams are personality conflicts, neglecting to share information, vague timeframes, vague priorities, and an unrealistic allotment of people, time and money. Often teams are asked to produce outcomes where they have had no input into the project design, project measurables or required resources.
That these ‘accidental’ teams produce as well as they do as often as they do is a testament to people’s initiative and desire to produce good work.
Creating Teams with both the Steak and the Sizzle
So how do we create the magic? There must be a clear, well communicated overview, self-selection or clear delegation of tasks (depending on the type of team) and first-class team report-back.
- Great teams set personality issues aside or deal with them in a constructive way (they call in help if needed).
- Great teams are clear about the goals, have realistic timelines and adequate resources.
- Great teams have a champion who can speak on their behalf and an organization that gives meaningful recognition.
- Those who will be held responsible for the deliverables are involved in the development of the project as early as possible.
- In self-directed teams the people themselves define their goal and determine how they will work toward it including, rewards, discipline and scheduling.
Organizationally, a team-based approach gives rise to a learning environment where skills and wisdom are transferred from peer to peer. Because it is experiential, this is learning that lasts.
Teams that Work designs engagements to support your organization in the evaluation of current team successes, identification of short-falls and breakdowns, and pinpointing systemic changes which will allow for a higher degree of success.
System-wide adaptations can involve identifying which types of teams are best suited for various projects and insuring that team criteria includes all the required mental/emotional and technical skills to support success.
We will address inter-personal concerns and may create internal educational structures to facilitate ongoing conflict resolution and effective communication. The goal is to produce great teams and regular experiences of the magic.
I like to work with real people and real project situations to deliver meaningful results which can then be extrapolated throughout the organization. I offer my extensive project leadership experience, large group facilitation experience, and the benefits of 25-years of grounded spiritual practice.
