Comments on: When Teamwork Doesn't Work http://philcooke.com/teamwork/ Change Revolution Tue, 22 May 2012 20:38:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Phil Cooke http://philcooke.com/teamwork/#comment-12544 Phil Cooke Sun, 09 Oct 2011 10:59:00 +0000 http://philcooke.vintom.com/teamwork#comment-12544 Good comment. I agree that the ones that don't pull their own weight can hide on a team - no question. They trumped the loudest about teams, because being on a team allows them to take credit for other people's work. Good comment. I agree that the ones that don’t pull their own weight can hide on a team – no question. They trumped the loudest about teams, because being on a team allows them to take credit for other people’s work.

]]> By: Anonymous http://philcooke.com/teamwork/#comment-12543 Anonymous Sun, 09 Oct 2011 02:54:00 +0000 http://philcooke.vintom.com/teamwork#comment-12543 What I find ironic is that, in my experience anyway, the people who trumpet the loudest about "team work" and "team playership" are always the ones who don't pull their own weight. I think team work is great when it's a team of individuals who are working hard, pulling their own load, and bringing the fruit of their own labor to the table to combine with the others. Unfortunately, what I see alot of is people hiding behind "team work" as an excuse to loaf, underperfom, and let others do the dirty work-or the work period. I despise that. "Social loafing" is a really good description. "Teamwork" can also lead to groupthink, with does stifle creativity and innovation. What I find ironic is that, in my experience anyway, the people who trumpet the loudest about “team work” and “team playership” are always the ones who don’t pull their own weight.
I think team work is great when it’s a team of individuals who are working hard, pulling their own load, and bringing the fruit of their own labor to the table to combine with the others.
Unfortunately, what I see alot of is people hiding behind “team work” as an excuse to loaf, underperfom, and let others do the dirty work-or the work period. I despise that.
“Social loafing” is a really good description. “Teamwork” can also lead to groupthink, with does stifle creativity and innovation.

]]> By: Simon Dillon http://philcooke.com/teamwork/#comment-7950 Simon Dillon Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 http://philcooke.vintom.com/teamwork#comment-7950 <p>Where you thinking of our recent "writing by committee" crisis when you wrote about this?!!!</p> Where you thinking of our recent “writing by committee” crisis when you wrote about this?!!!

]]> By: Phil http://philcooke.com/teamwork/#comment-7951 Phil Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 http://philcooke.vintom.com/teamwork#comment-7951 <p>No, but come to think about it - it is appropriate!   :-)</p> No, but come to think about it – it is appropriate!   :-)

]]> By: Stephen Bateman http://philcooke.com/teamwork/#comment-7952 Stephen Bateman Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 http://philcooke.vintom.com/teamwork#comment-7952 <p>Indeed, our team talks about ideas, but always releases one person to run with it. </p> Indeed, our team talks about ideas, but always releases one person to run with it. 

]]> By: Joan Ball http://philcooke.com/teamwork/#comment-7953 Joan Ball Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 http://philcooke.vintom.com/teamwork#comment-7953 <p><span style="font-family: Times;"><div style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-color: #ffffff; background-position: initial initial; margin: 8px;"><p>My students would love this post. Group projects are their nemesis, yet preparation for the corporate culture you reference demands that they learn how to solve problems and produce content in groups. That said, I frequently observe that group work among students results in a "least common denominator" result. Something that often carries over to the workplace.</p></div></span></p>

My students would love this post. Group projects are their nemesis, yet preparation for the corporate culture you reference demands that they learn how to solve problems and produce content in groups. That said, I frequently observe that group work among students results in a “least common denominator” result. Something that often carries over to the workplace.

]]> By: Carl Obremski http://philcooke.com/teamwork/#comment-7954 Carl Obremski Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 http://philcooke.vintom.com/teamwork#comment-7954 <p>That's what managers are supposed to do, to build a team...to max out each person's capabilities.</p><p>What you describe happens with mismanagement of resources.</p><p>Last week at Feed the Children, we had two lines of volunteers packing food boxes.  Both had the same number of volunteers, but one line packed double the number of boxes.  Why?  Because the leader of that line worked tirelessly until every kink was worked out of the system.</p> That’s what managers are supposed to do, to build a team…to max out each person’s capabilities.

What you describe happens with mismanagement of resources.

Last week at Feed the Children, we had two lines of volunteers packing food boxes.  Both had the same number of volunteers, but one line packed double the number of boxes.  Why?  Because the leader of that line worked tirelessly until every kink was worked out of the system.

]]> By: Sean http://philcooke.com/teamwork/#comment-7955 Sean Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 http://philcooke.vintom.com/teamwork#comment-7955 Thanks! Great Post! Thanks! Great Post!

]]> By: Francesca http://philcooke.com/teamwork/#comment-7956 Francesca Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 http://philcooke.vintom.com/teamwork#comment-7956 I agree with Carl. The end result of teamwork depends on leadership. Good leaders know how to select a team based on their strengths and how to keep the team on track and drive them to achieve their goals. Without the right leader and the right people on the team, and clearly defined goals and open communication,then teamwork is just a series of unproductive meetings and missed deadlines. I agree with Carl. The end result of teamwork depends on leadership. Good leaders know how to select a team based on their strengths and how to keep the team on track and drive them to achieve their goals. Without the right leader and the right people on the team, and clearly defined goals and open communication,then teamwork is just a series of unproductive meetings and missed deadlines.

]]> By: Chary http://philcooke.com/teamwork/#comment-7957 Chary Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 http://philcooke.vintom.com/teamwork#comment-7957 Very well said...I believe that a team is only as effective as the person leading it. A great leader observes, identifies, recommends, and implements. Very well said…I believe that a team is only as effective as the person leading it. A great leader observes, identifies, recommends, and implements.

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