I had misplaced the copy so I didn't remember when it had been posted and I couldn't find it archived.
Well, with the New Year, I was tidying up at work and found it....it's from September 9, 2005....but it was somehow missed in archives...so I wanted to re-post it with the following question for perusal by the group....
After reading this, how do you think this "How to build a Team" would work or looks like in a family situation?
Here's Tom's post:
You know
Posted by Tom on 9/9/2005, 8:59:29, in reply to “Tom…building a Team”
None really jump out as must reads---probably because I disagree with a lot of what is out there. That caused me a lot of strife while I was getting my MBA---organizational behavior (OB) profs had trouble being corrected.
Keep in mind that I am a product of my environment. I have a very specific idea of what a team is and why it is needed. Here are a couple of thoughts:
Most “teams” are not, they are groups or collaborative groups.
Most leaders are not, they are at best managers.
Careless or non-specific use of the term obfuscates your true needs, it does not clarify them
So the first thing that you really need to ask yourself is do you need a team to accomplish the task? I believe that a team is a wholly inter-dependent collection of people put together for the express purpose of accomplishing a task. The individuals are responsible to the team and the team is responsible to the individual. The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.
So, if you answer no, the next question is what specific attributes of a team would you like to see/need to have in your collaborative group, to accomplish the task? What quality must all the people possess? What attribute must none of them possess? What skill/quality do you need in the group but not everyone must possess?
Now, in order to answer these questions, you are going to have to spend some time looking at the organization you work for, the uncompromisable values, the goals, specified tasks, etc.
Now, you have two complicating factors based on your original post
1-“When I mentioned this to my team leader, I was told that was my responsibility to teach that. Well, honestly, I have NO idea how to do that” Your team leader doesn’t know either. Pus, how many team leaders are there (If you are one and have one, how can that be? Team is being used too flippantly)?
2-You didn’t get to pick your individual members.
So, given that here is what I would advise—answer the four questions I asked above.
Anyone that has an attribute that none should possess must be corrected immediately.
People not possessing a quality they should, can be corrected over time through mentoring.
Keep in mind, the purpose of a team is not about equality or sharing the work load/responsibility, it is about accomplishing tasks within the parameters of uncompromisable values.
Just because someone doesn’t buy into the concept doesn’t mean they aren’t useful. Empowerment is a big one in OB speak. Well a whole bunch of people don’t want to be empowered---they want to spend exactly 8 hours putting lids on cans, go home and watch the game---that person is very useful to the organization.
Now, once you have done some of this work, ask this question---what is the “team” doing for the individual? What are the “teams” responsibility to the members?
all right, I’ve prattled on long enough.
oh, if you answered yes to the first question, you’ve got a huge problem/task ahead of you.