Okay, I need to go on the record as saying I am a big fan of traditions.
On a personal level, I relish the thought of eating turkey at Thanksgiving dinner. I like knowing what to expect when I attend a church service. And, I enjoy my monthly “guys night out,” where we play poker and talk fantasy football – it’s been the same group of friends for over 20 years!
On a professional level, I find comfort in my organizational culture and wholeheartedly support it. In addition, I value the high performance objectives we set because they make team members better and the organization stronger.
This being said, however, I can’t help but think about a recent college football analyst who called the Oregon Ducks “anti-tradition.” This analyst believed that it was only by stepping away from athletic tradition that the Ducks perfected their winning formula. To even the most casual college football fan, many examples come to mind: their cutting-edge uniforms in a myriad of color combinations, their fast-paced offense, and the fact that they … Read More »
Insights on Effective Teams and Leaders posted by: Mitch January 18, 2012
Have you ever wondered why some teams maintain high spirits and consistently outperform others? What is their secret? Allow me to share some tips from a team development handbook I am currently reading. This first list is from the perspective of a successful leader as he or she looks at a team. Then, the second list is from the perspective of a team as they look at their leader.
What a leader should expect from his or her team:
Everyone is involved in planning, at least to some degree. People are doing the job they want to do (good placement decisions). In meetings, everyone is spontaneous and contributing new ideas. Members respect each other’s ideas. People do not grudgingly hang on to their own ideas. There is a good feeling among everyone with no hidden hostility or misperceptions. Goals are clearly stated and everyone is explicitly committed to making the team a winner. People are absorbed in the task and are not distracted. After a project, the outcome and team process are analyzed for improvements. There is little to no conflict because … Read More »
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