Life is not designed for us to live in isolation. We need people and people need us and this is especially critical in leadership.
Effective leadership always involves the operation of an effective team.
“Great things are rarely achieved by just one person. Usually, they are accomplished by a group of people, and when everyone is committed to the overall goal, teams move faster, are more innovative and more successful. Successful teamwork is essential for anyone attempting complete projects successfully.” Tameday.com
A team is a number of people associated in a joint venture working harmoniously towards the corporate good by the individual contribution of their specialized input.
“Teamwork is the ability to work together toward a common vision. The ability to direct individual accomplishments toward organizational objectives. It is the fuel that allows common people to attain uncommon results.” Andrew Carnegie
Characteristics of an effective team:
- They have clearly set out and articulated vision and purpose to which every team member subscribes to and is consciously contributing to successfully execute through the input of his/her specialist contribution.
“Can two walk together, except they be agreed?” Amos 3:3.
- Each member is a specialist in his/her own right bringing a unique contribution to the team.
“Individual commitment to a group effort—that is what makes a team work, a company work, a society work, a civilisationwork.” Vince Lombardi
- Membership and contribution in a team are diverse. Its power is in its diversity.
“What we have is one body with many parts, each its proper size and in its proper place. No part is important on its own.” 1 Corinthians 12:20 Message.
- Each member compliments the others. Their unique contribution provides a multiplier effect on the team. A good team has synergy – the interaction or cooperation of two or more people, groups or organization to produce a combined effect greater than the sum of their separate effect.
“Synergy is what happens when one plus one equals ten or a hundred or even a thousand! It’s the profound result when two or more respectful human beings determine to go beyond their preconceived ideas to meet a great challenge.” Stephen Covey
“It’s better to have a partner than go it alone. Share the work, share the wealth. And if one falls down, the other helps, But if there’s no one to help, tough!” Ecclesiastics 4:9-10 Message.
TO BE CONTINUED
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Two is better than one Part 2
Last time we began looking at the issue of teams, working in partnership with others. Life is not designed for us to live in isolation.
“There is no such thing as a self-made man. You will reach your goals only with the help of others.” George Shinn
We need people and people need us and this is especially critical in leadership.
Effective leadership always involves the operation of an effective team.
A team is a number of people associated in a joint venture working harmoniously towards the corporate good by the individual contribution of their specialized input.
We also saw the characteristics of an effective team.
- They have clearly set out and articulated vision and purpose to which every team member subscribes to and is consciously contributing to successfully execute through the input of his/her specialist contribution.
- Each member is a specialist in his/her own right bringing a unique contribution to the team.
- Membership and contribution in a team are diverse. Its power is in its diversity.
- Each member compliments the others. Their unique contribution provides a multiplier effect on the team. A good team has synergy – the interaction or cooperation of two or more people, groups or organization to produce a combined effect greater than the sum of their separate effect.
Today we continue.
- The leader is respected, sets the pace, offers motivation, direction, harmony and he glues the team together despite their diversity.
“Teamwork is the ability to work together toward a common vision. The ability to direct individual accomplishments toward organizational objectives. It is the fuel that allows common people to attain uncommon results.” Andrew Carnegie
The leader is a very critical factor in the successful operation of any team.
“Ultimately, leadership is not about glorious crowning acts. It’s about keeping your team focused on a goal and motivated to do their best to achieve it, especially when the stakes are high and the consequences really matter. It is about laying the groundwork for others’ success, and then standing back and letting them shine.” Chris Hadfield
- Commitment, trust and openness – due to the diversity of the team there has to be openness to express ideas, tolerance to accommodate divergent views and trust that everyone is working together for the corporate good.
“Remember, teamwork begins by building trust. And the only way to do that is to overcome our need for invulnerability.”Patrick Lencioni
Teams, if well run, will produce a multiplier effect on the output of the team hence teams are needed in virtually every sector of life.
Next time we will look at some areas where teams are needed.
TO BE CONTINUED
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Two is better than one Part 3
We have been looking at the issue of working together with people in teams. Last time we saw that the characteristics of an effective team and we saw that there is need for teams in virtually every sector of life. We cannot go too far alone.
“Anyone who imagines they can work alone winds up surrounded by nothing but rivals, without companions. The fact is, no one ascends alone.” Lance Armstrong
Today we will look at some of the areas where we need teams.
Marriage.
“Now the Lord God said, It is not good (sufficient, satisfactory) that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper meet (suitable, adapted, complementary) for him.” Genesis 2:18 Amplified.
Business.
“It’s better to have a partner than go it alone. Share the work, share the wealth. And if one falls down, the other helps, But if there’s no one to help, tough!” Ecclesiastics 4:9-10 Message.
Church.
“Think of it this way. If the whole body were just an eyeball, how could it hear sounds? And if the whole body were just an ear, how could it smell different fragrances? But God has carefully designed each member and placed it in the body to function as he desires. A diversity is required, for if the body consisted of one single part, there wouldn’t be a body at all! So now we see that there are many differing parts and functions, but one body.” 1 Corinthians 12:17-20 Passion.
To be effective in teams we need to:
*Discover and develop our unique specialization.
*Partner with people who need our specialization.
“Find a group of people who challenge and inspire you, spend a lot of time with them, and it will change your life.” Amy Poehler
*Develop soft skills to relate with people who are not like us.
“The people with whom you work reflect your own attitude. If you are suspicious, unfriendly and condescending, you will find these unlovely traits echoed all about you. But if you are on your best behavior, you will bring out the best in the persons with whom you are going to spend most of your working hours.” Beatrice Vincent
*Realize on our own we are not sufficient but that with effective partnership we achieve more. Together each achieves more is the summary of an effective team..
As leaders of teams we need to harness, coordinate and maximize the input of our team and ensure a smooth operation for corporate and individual good.
“No matter how brilliant your mind or strategy, if you’re playing a solo game, you’ll always lose out to a team.” Reid Hoffman
CONCLUDED
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