Hello all, sorry if you have noticed I wasn’t posting everyday like I normally would. For the last one week plus, this topic had been the most dominant topic in my mind. We had a training scheduled with one of the most prominent departments in one of Nigeria’s leading telecommunication companies, it had to be right. I have been so busy trying to ensure that our standards were right that I have not had time to update you on goings-on.
The event finally took place, we had the Team Effectiveness Workshop on Thursday and Friday at IITA, Ibadan. All the participants as well as the facilitators were lodged at the hotel, arguably one of the most decent, natural and serene in Nigeria (I haven’t been paid to sing their praises, so let me take it easy). The workshop commenced on Thursday afternoon, we continued till some minutes to ten and started again 8am the next morning till after 4pm. From the comments(both written and verbal) from the participants, we had delivered exceptional value. I personally felt very honoured, when one of the Nigerians I respected and had looked forward to seeing, shook my hands after the training and told me that the whole exercise had been a job well done. Wow!
What do you consider as a team? There are many terms that are used to describe a team, they range from terms like group, synergy, cooperation, whole>sum, working together, having a common boss, having a common aim e.t.c. If you however look at all of these definitions, the only one characteristic that makes for an effective team is having a common aim. A group may not be working as a team, synergy of efforts might not be towards a common aim, and hence not a team. A team is a group of people with a common aim, cooperating together to achieve excellent results. Think about all the groups you have been a part of… were you really a team?
Once the definition of team is aligned, we then need to put some things in place to ensure that a team is effective. In defining an effective team, there are 6 attributes that characterise and effective team. These six items are like segments of a tyre, every part of the model supports the other and keep the team moving forward. The objective of any team effectiveness workshop is to ensure that these 6 elements become ingrained into the mind set of teams and furnishes them with the capacities to deploy these characteristics in executing team projects.
1. Direction – The first thing any group of people gathered together to form a team must have is direction. Where are we going? Why are we going? What is our vision? What do we want to achieve, what is our objective? These are all necessary questions before a team begins execution. A team must have a vision – A picture of the future described in present terms. A stretch energizing statement about what one desires the future to be. Direction needs to be set, and clearly too. Moving forward as a team happens because all the members of the team are committed to a vision. It is not about the leader, it is not about self aggrandizement, it’s about the vision.
2. Leadership – Every team needs a leader! Someone needs to be responsible for the results of the team, someone needs to be in charge. The role of a leader involves envisioning, energizing, enabling, engaging and executing…
It’s after midnight, and I need to get something done early in the morning. I will be completing this depending on the general interest I observe.
9 thoughts on “Team Effectiveness Workshop!”
It will be interesting to get the rest of the tips.I came across an acronym that defines the word team:Togethet Everone Achieves More.This write up is sbout how to achieve result or more from a team.
Dear Deolu,
First, I should say Happy New Year to you. I guess this is the first comment I will contribute this year. It won’t be the last.
Your article is great! A lot of my colleagues need to read it. It reminds me of the biblical story of some people who wanted to build a tower that would reach into heaven. They were at it and I am sure they would have gotten it done it not for God’s decision to stop them.
One principle they applied then and which a lot of people, communities, organizations and nations need to learn and apply today is the ‘unity of purpose’ with which the man worked to build the tower.
By ‘unity of purpose’ I mean that the summation of all their thoughts and actions were targeted at achieving their goal i.e. building a tower that which into heaven.
They must have had good leadership, being organized, focused on their individual tasks, respected each other, helped each other and kept all communications truthful.
The bible records that God had to stop them. If HE left them, they would have achieved their goal; and easily too.
God acknowledged that their unity and knew that the only way to stop them was to make them not understand each other (misunderstanding). The moment division set in, they all abandoned the project and everyman went his way.
This happens most times when people work in a group. Even with as little as two people.
They all start out well but along the line, the seed of discord is sown and they fall apart.
If only people know that “whatsoever two or three (a team, an organization or a nation) shall agree upon…… ”
Thanks Deolu. Sorry for using up so much space.
Chairman, i must say congratulations. Your success story is a clear signal that it is possible, if a man gives it all it takes. keep learning and keep giving.
good one. over the past few weeks i`ve been thinking on the subject of team work and this is really a good addition to my thoughts which i just thought of polishing and putting up on my blog. infact i taught part of it in my sunday school class yesterday. it`s so good to learn more. i look forward to more on the subject and i truly believe that “TOGETHER, EVERYONE ACHIEVES MORE”
This training sounds like it was a lot of fun. Am i missing out on something?
This article couldn’t have been more timely for me. i am a member of a team at themoment and one of my roles is to see that proper and necesaary systems are put in place for the team to run effectively.
I cannot wait for the continuatio of the 6 lemets of team effectiveness. I hope the overall interest level is impressive but if otherwise, some of us will find it extremely useful.
Regards.
One of my personal definitions of team work is “I do my bit, you do your bit, and life goes on happily ever after” but then, I’ve discovered that for whatever reasons, if the other party doesn’t do his bit, does that mean I shouldn’t do it? Noooo, it’s not about what I contribute, it’s about what WE contribute. When we work with one mindset, it helps us achieve our goals faster as against thinking solely as individuals.
If you were no there, you can’t have the same experience. I suggest that you finish the article because of someone that might be interested.
I am proud to be part of your winning team, and i will definetly input 200% to make sure our goals are reached.
team work. the interesting thing about team work is the amount of result they generate. no one single person thinking he knows it all.everyone single person in the team pursues an organizational goal that will be beneficial to all.that is what teamwork is all about.