There Is No Team In “I”
The old phrase “There’s no ‘I’ in team” is true but it ignores the entire concept that a team is made up of indiviuals and can only be as good as each individual on the team. I think about my work team and the leadership team at my church. Each individual brings a different dynamic, skillset and issue to the team. People also have different expectations of the team. If you’re not getting the skills you need from the team then all “us” mentatilty goes out the window and you do what’s best for you and your family.
When you leave the team changes. Management thinks they can replace you but there is never another person that creates the same dynamic. (Depending on the individual, sometimes this is good for the team.) All this to say, we need to value the individual more. If we manage any kind of team, we need to fight the idea that it’s about the team. It’s about individuals in the team playing roles so something larger than each individual can be accomplished. If you manage a team consider the dynamic that the people bring on equal level as their skill set.
That’s my non-management pion thought for the day.
October 25th, 2004 at 10:51 am
Management makes the most critical mistake when they go on and on about teamwork but discount the emotional impact of the decisions they make on the team members, as if those emotions don’t exist. The acheivement food chain affects everyone. Are “managers” exempt from lack of recognition and inclusion? Don’t think so. Yet, because they enjoy higher levels of protection, they feel they can toy with people or not adequately assess, respect and deal with the affect negative decisions have on their associates, all in the name of “being a team player”. Give me a break - don’t lecture me on the validity/invaldity of my emotions, manager.
Thankfully, I am now my own and hope that when I hire folks to work with me, I will embrace a model that does respect them if we have to make decisions that are not positive for them. That is a high calling and there is a cost to it, sometimes in financial terms, always in emotional terms, but I must be committed to my ideals if I want to live truly to God’s model of “management” in relationship with others.
January 5th, 2007 at 11:56 pm
Well, I hope you’ve found the direction for this..so far..so good…I finally got my site up and made my first profits…take a look..ok? CYA