Teambuilding

Teams and teambuilding are considered central building blocks in today's work environment. According to Ken Blanchard, co-author of The One Minute Manager, "Today, the key to effective leadership is understanding group dynamics and having the capacities to build high performing teams. The days of single-handed leadership are ancient history." While this does not totally eliminate the individual as a problem solver, it has been proven that the team approach to problems, particularly complex problems, provides a breadth and depth of knowledge that one individual cannot possibly hope to possess. Of course, it is possible that you might be working for an Adolph Hitler, Kim Il Sung, or a descendant of someone equally dictatorial. Recognize that this is not a good situation and that their management style is truly a thing of the past and will, in fact, hold back organizational progress. "If it is to be, it's up to me," is no longer the mantra of effective managers; today, it's more like, "If it is to be, it is up to we;" very corny, but very true.

We're going to address several issues as we go through this workshop. Among them are the following:

I happen to dislike the term, "team player." In my experience, it's been overused and has also served as an excuse for getting rid of some pretty good people - that seems to be the name of the game in today's management environment - whether that environment is managing a business, and educational institution, or a public service agency. If you're not someone's definition of a "team player," you're shut out and very often, shown the door.  The problem with that is that the definition seems to vary depending on who happens to be doing the defining. We will talk more about what it means to be a member of a team and even define the word, but for now, let me offer two quotations. The first is from Phil Jackson, current coach of the Los Angeles Lakers: "The strength of the team is each individual member...The strength of each member is the team." Okay, that's a basketball team. What difference does that make? Yes, they have to work together, but then, don't you have to work with others to ensure the accomplishment of your job? As Michael Jordan said, "Talent wins games, but teamwork wins championships." Most athletes know that teamwork is the only way to win just as most good managers or team leaders know that to get the best possible solution to any problem, whether it's increasing sales, attracting new customers, strengthening your own position in the marketplace, you need teamwork, and building the right team is staying ahead of the competition.

If all of this sounds like a 'rah-rah' speech, it probably is. However, I believe you'll agree as we go through this exercise that being committed to the team concept will increase your value to your organization. Let me add one other thing: The reason that I'm such a believer now is because for a long time I was the greatest disbeliever you ever saw. I fought the team concept because I'd been used to being the 'decision-maker.' I was willing to accept the consequences of my individual actions. Then I watched the process work, was dragged kicking and screaming into it, and finally began to understand that by being part of a team, I could, in fact, be the beneficiary of a better product, share the burden and the accolades, and divide the worry and grief. Was it easy? Hell, no! Did it make my life easier and give me a greater sense of accomplishment? You bet your life it did.

Materials for this workshop have been developed from a variety of resources including the author's personal experiences as well as research from the Internet and a variety of consulting colleagues.

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