A Group Does Not A Team Make
Leadership is action, not position.
Donald H. McGannon
It’s simple to develop responsibilities, titles, direct reports and deliverables. But how will you allow a place of teamwork to resemble reality?
Beware what you set your heart upon. For it surely shall be yours.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
If you have ever experienced a true open environment it can be exciting - yet to some - chaotic. And because most don't want chaos, they choose to keep things nice and neat and departmentalized.
The perception of losing focus or control can block potential for significant growth in your organization and the careers of each person inside it.
If ideas aren't shared, department walls get higher and silos deepen.
To lead the people, walk behind them.
Lao-Tzu
The position of Chairperson, CEO or President may appear to be at the top of the organization chart. But it's actually in the middle. This is the person who sets the tone; makes the big decisions that could affect the workload of everyone else.
She must answer to the owners, shareholders, investors, customers, employees and the public. If a company relies solely on her decisions, millions or even billions can hang in the balance. It's dangerous to lean on one person's bad - or bad mood - decisions.
The first rule of management is delegation.
Don't try and do everything yourself because you can't.
Anthea Turner
A former boss taught be about “reversed delegation”. This is where someone suggests a half-baked idea and you try to run with it.
This neither encourages their further thought nor helps you with what you want to accomplish. Push it back on their plate and see what happens.
Organization charts and fancy titles
count for next to nothing.
Colin Powell
For decades even centuries, we have followed a company model that resembled a flow chart. Nice and clean, easy to follow, department and leaders, directors and work flow.
We may have forgotten one important element:
Are we communicating and sharing this life experience with each other or just sharing a parking lot and florescent lights for 2,000 hours a year?
@knealemann
Helping you create your best business,
marketing and social media strategy.
image credit: theworkorganizer.biz
Love this, thanks Kneale! I have worked for dictators, I have experience wonderful teamwork and I think I know which I prefer.
Happy weekend!
Ned said... October 9, 2009 8:19 AM
To borrow a cliche, without meaning behind titles and departments it's all just words signifying nothing. Great post, thanks.
Cathy said... October 9, 2009 8:21 AM
It's not easy to lead every day. Sometimes you do have a bad day or bad situation and feel you have no place to go. But you're right, if you have a true team they will help too.
I like the reversed delegation thing, I do that WAY TOO OFTEN!
Linda said... October 9, 2009 8:47 AM
RT @knealemann: New Post: A Group Does Not A Team Make. http://bit.ly/UHFbW #leadership #teamwork #strategy
Mark said... October 9, 2009 9:41 AM
RT @knealemann: New Post: A Group Does Not A Team Make. http://bit.ly/UHFbW #leadership #teamwork #strategy
Patrick said... October 9, 2009 9:41 AM
Great way to end the week, thanks Kneale! I have a big team meeting next week and this will be a center piece as part of our dicussions. Thanks!
Norman said... October 9, 2009 3:09 PM
Thanks Ned, glad you enjoyed it! Have a great weekend yourself, sir. km
Kneale Mann said... October 10, 2009 3:36 PM
Cathy, nice work on the old cliche. But you are bang on!
Kneale Mann said... October 10, 2009 3:36 PM
Linda, I was the kind of reserved delegation and then wondered why new ideas were being brought forward and frankly I wasn't getting what I wanted and needed to get done, done.
Kneale Mann said... October 10, 2009 3:37 PM
Mark and Patrick - thanks for the RTs!
Kneale Mann said... October 10, 2009 3:37 PM
That's awesome Norman, please keep me posted on the results. km
Kneale Mann said... October 10, 2009 3:37 PM
Post a Comment