A Lean Journey 
Any collection
of people can form a group – a group of tourists, a group of spectators, a
management group. Management groups usually call themselves management teams.
Often they are only groups. But it’s a basketball team that wins a medal; a
surgical team that performs an operation. You don’t hear of basketball or
soccer groups.
of people can form a group – a group of tourists, a group of spectators, a
management group. Management groups usually call themselves management teams.
Often they are only groups. But it’s a basketball team that wins a medal; a
surgical team that performs an operation. You don’t hear of basketball or
soccer groups.
A group of unrelated
(tourist), uncoordinated (spectators), or under a traditional hierarchical
system (management). A team operates with skilled coordination. Its members
share common goals and values. They are mutually supportive. They work together
and communicate regularly. They actively participate. There is a strong sense
of common purpose and consensus-seeking.
(tourist), uncoordinated (spectators), or under a traditional hierarchical
system (management). A team operates with skilled coordination. Its members
share common goals and values. They are mutually supportive. They work together
and communicate regularly. They actively participate. There is a strong sense
of common purpose and consensus-seeking.
No leader has
all the skills. The skills a team has complement those of the leader. Combining
complementary skills capitalizes on the natural formation of groups, turning
them into teams. A successful team is a portrait of diversity: diverse,
professional backgrounds, experience, temperament, intelligence, behavior,
extroversion, introversion, dominance, emotional stability. People with
identical ideas and reactions, “yes-men,” or just clever people won’t make a
good team.
all the skills. The skills a team has complement those of the leader. Combining
complementary skills capitalizes on the natural formation of groups, turning
them into teams. A successful team is a portrait of diversity: diverse,
professional backgrounds, experience, temperament, intelligence, behavior,
extroversion, introversion, dominance, emotional stability. People with
identical ideas and reactions, “yes-men,” or just clever people won’t make a
good team.
By forming his
or her team(s), a leader replace individualist, competitive management style
with a more trusting and cooperative style. Selection is the most important.
Without the right people nothing is possible.
or her team(s), a leader replace individualist, competitive management style
with a more trusting and cooperative style. Selection is the most important.
Without the right people nothing is possible.
The advantages
of a team:
of a team:
- Input of many
people of diverse skills - Getting the
best out of each other - Diverse
experience, knowledge, and judgement - Not dependent
on any individual (succession planning) - Self-regeneration
by recruitment - Passing
experience to new members
A team is made
from the right climate and characteristics:
from the right climate and characteristics:
Climate:
- Mutual trust
and cooperation - Openness and
reciprocal support - Disagreement
without conflict - Elimination of
status differences - Leveling of
human differences
Characteristics:
- Mixed
composition of 6 to 9 people - Regular
face-to-face meetings with frequent interaction - No “us” and
“them” - Clear purpose,
commitment, and identification with each other - Structured and
divergent, but disciplined - Mutual care
among team players, with a will to do the job well so others do theirs
It’s like the
analogy of a conductor and his orchestra. To harmonize all instruments, the
orchestra needs a conductor. Teams also need a conductor – a leader – to
coordinate, resolve conflicts, and unite the team to a common purpose. It
requires great interpersonal skill. Leading a team is a good experience, a
stepping stone to higher leadership.
analogy of a conductor and his orchestra. To harmonize all instruments, the
orchestra needs a conductor. Teams also need a conductor – a leader – to
coordinate, resolve conflicts, and unite the team to a common purpose. It
requires great interpersonal skill. Leading a team is a good experience, a
stepping stone to higher leadership.
You can’t make a good soccer team out of
the eleven best goalkeepers. You need good players of different skills.
the eleven best goalkeepers. You need good players of different skills.
In the next
post I’ll discuss the composition and roles of a team and how to use them to be
successful.
post I’ll discuss the composition and roles of a team and how to use them to be
successful.
Leave a Comment
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked with *