team development - scenarios
Too busy to be a team
This group do not understand what team working is and they consequently lack the self-perception of being a cohesive unit – this has the effect of robbing the group of the confidence it needs to face the people outside it as a united force. Not having even spotted their own talent for working together they tend to stumble (actually rather successfully) from one challenge to the next feeling worn down and gloomy. Their lack of collective self-regard also prevents them from supporting each other to the extent that individuals take unnecessary risks ‘going it alone’ on major decisions.
Working but not talking
In this case, you can see that the skills and experience are all there. But life for this team has been so frenetic that they haven’t had the chance to really ‘gel’ as each new person has joined. One consequence seems to be that they don’t trust one another and some still feel that they have to consistently prove themselves to the leader so as to justify their presence at the top table.
Out of sight out of mind
The first thing that becomes apparent when talking to the members of this team is the variation between the points of view. Each site seems to believe a different set of truths. The members of this team, divided between different offices, perhaps in more than one country, find it hard to feel trust for their peers when face to face conversations are rare and where the resulting frequent misunderstandings can cause disproportionately high levels of discord. Wounds are rarely properly healed before another misunderstanding creates yet another stand-off. The members of this team value their individual autonomy and can’t really see what the benefits are of pulling together.
I’m better than you
It can be exciting being in a meeting with this team because they tend to be full of energy and action. You will also notice that they spend plenty of this energy positioning their ideas to the boss and very little time supporting each other’s initiatives. The lead person will often challenge his team and will not mind highlighting mistakes and shortfalls. This will all be seen as part of the rough and tumble of being part of this elite team. Whilst apparently enjoying the cut and thrust many of the members will privately feel both intimidated and worn down by the effects of the constant vying for position.
Lots of ideas, little direction
You will know of this team by their reputation as being ‘a very clever bunch’ rather than as a group that is constantly achieving. A team made up of brilliant minds does not always get much done unless it is led (and allows itself to be led) by someone who is prepared to give clear direction. A tendency to give an open brief and plenty of autonomy can lead to a group frustrated by lack of direction and a leader wondering why his team doesn’t seem to step up too the plate.
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