Posted in Hot Topics and New Bits, Leadership, Teamwork, Thriving in Change
Teamwork Defined with New Gems
Every minute of teamwork requires adapting to each other, to changing conditions, and sometimes to changing goals.
The traditional definition of teamwork, people working together to reach a shared common goal, sounds logical, seems clear — and falls short of success.
It makes a glaring assumption that people will adapt and change as needed to reach the common goal.
Yet, with this definition of teamwork, most people work toward the common goal from and within their own perspective.
The Result? Teams that cannot quickly adapt to change. When the business starts to change or new opportunities arise, leaders bring in outsiders or must sometimes pass on the opportunity.
A great definition of teamwork includes a call to action to build and exercise change-ability skills for optimal teamwork in any situation.
Picture your organization using this new definition of teamwork:
Growth and change within team members to achieve a common success.
It’s applicable to changing environments, is very clear, and defines teamwork as adapting to reach the common goal instead of working to reach the common goal.
This definition of teamwork creates startling results when you use it with these four precious gems.
BY:Skistz
RUBY. Passion for learning. When you create a learning (not training) culture, the team exercises its change-ability muscles. Learning is change and one that most people welcome since it enhances their careers and no one can fail.
The startling result is a stream of new contributions because all are involved in continuous improvement.
Creativity increases and critical thinking improves. Athletic teams regularly exercise for improved performance and theater troupes explore new ideas for this same reason. Unfortunately teams focused on production often get locked in daily routines. Create startling new results with a learning culture.
Action Item: Pick one topic related to business, teamwork, service, sales, or technology. Have each team member Google/Bing on the topic and collate those results online. At a virtual team meeting, take 15 minutes for team members to identify aloud what info they can use and how. Make this a weekly event and watch the teams create, collaborate, and flex to changing needs.
By: ThisIsBossi
EMERALD. Leader with a confident ego. If you have a learning culture, the leader must feel confident even with constructive dissenters and creative strategic thinkers on the team. This confident leader is the emerald gem of teamwork — reminding us all of The Wizard of Oz. Toward the end of the movie the curtain is drawn back to reveal there is no all-powerful wizard. He is instead a wise caring person. His insights flow from there.
By: ThisIsBossi
SAPPHIRE. Human bonding on diverse and distributed teams. The evil of isolation due to distance or differences undermines the full potential of teams. Picture world-wide technology rollout teams who have never met, come from different cultures, and rotate team members. If no bonding is addressed, the teams will fall short of full success. Use video-based virtual meetings to introduce team members. Build understanding on topics of personality type, generational differences, cultural norms, learning style, and pet peeves!
By: TambakoTheJaguar
DIAMOND. The I’s in Team. There are several I’s in teamwork – individual initiative and identity committed to the team. Respect and acknowledge individual talents contributed to the whole. It inspires greater contributions and willingness to share and teach. Some organizations call this the essential piece culture where each person knows how s/he contributes to the whole success.
©2011 Kate Nasser, CAS, Inc. Somerville, NJ. For permission to re-post or republish, please email info@katenasser.com. Thank you for respecting intellectual capital.
Kate Nasser, The People-Skills Coach, delivers team building workshops and innovative solutions for startling team results. See this site for more info and 21 years of testimonials.