Inspirational 'Ripple'  Columns
Team Survival

A concern I currently have is for the well-being of people who have lost sight of what it means to them personally to be part of a team.  The chance of survival for most of the species on earth is greatest when teamwork is embraced.  From elephant to ant and therefore even humans, survival of the individual becomes a whole lot easier when supporting a team effort.

My concern has come about through direct observation of the many people I work with through the facilitation of team events.  It is obvious that all of these team events are sponsored by the company employing the team of people.  It is also fairly obvious to see why companies promote the idea of teamwork, especially in the light of the now famous acronym for the word team:

Together
Everyone
Achieves
More

Clearly, by companies promoting the concept of teamwork, they are hoping to achieve more year-in and year-out.  I sense that with all this emphasis on teamwork, from the organisation’s perspective, the individual is not spending enough time thinking about what it means to be part of the team from a ‘me’ perspective.  “What is in it for me?” has become common thinking and generally it entails wanting more as opposed to sitting back periodically and appreciating how much easier life is as a result of being part of the team.  Hunting in packs clearly means greater chances of success for wild dogs.  Teams, when structured correctly, provide cover for individual weaknesses.  There are very few real examples of one-man-businesses (is that because men can’t multi-task?)  Places like the local grocery store, fuel station, vet and video shop are all part of the greater suburb team.  Clearly Teamwork = Survival!!

Any business leader reading this column is surely going to get excited about the prospect of pinning it up on the otherwise empty company notice board, with a smug note scribbled with a whiteboard marker saying “take note!!”   That simply will not get the desired shift in focus.  People have become too submerged in entitlement, too focussed on payback and reward for supporting company initiatives and too walled in their own worlds to remember and appreciate the full power of teamwork for themselves.  Teamwork may simply be seen as another corporate tool for making profit.

I believe we all need to take a moment to identify what TEAM means to us individually.  Where we benefit unconsciously through teamwork!  How difficult our lives would be without all the teams around us!  How being a member of a team within the workplace assists us in our desire to put food on the table!  With all of this, I feel it is time to design a new acronym for TEAM – one that will remind us of the importance of working toward the common goal for our individual survival.  One that clearly depicts the “what is in it for me?” that a lot of people have lost sight of!!

Give it a bash!!  Get creative!! I look forward to receiving your suggestions!! 

T =
E =
A =
M =

No prizes for the winner – just the satisfaction of supporting the team effort!!