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We’re All on the Same Side Here, Aren’t We?
Sometimes team members forget that they should be working towards common objectives. The results aren’t pretty.
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A speaker at a software development conference asked, “What’s the difference between a team and a bunch of bozos on a bus?” The attendees suggested various characteristics that distinguish a team. Here’s a typical dictionary definition: “A team is a group of individuals who work together to achieve a common goal or purpose.” Sometimes, though, not every team member remembers that they’re all supposed to be on the same side. When that happens, the outcomes can be disappointing or downright ugly.
A Tale of Two Teams
I’ve worked with some teams that jelled and operated effectively. I’ve also worked with groups of people who were declared a “team” but never acted like one and didn’t achieve their goal. Two contrasting examples each consisted of four smart, experienced research scientists in a large world-class corporate research laboratory.
The team that jelled had precise goals, and we established clear responsibilities and defined roles for our work. It took contributions from all of us to solve the problems. We quickly achieved our primary goal, as set by senior management. Then the interesting scientific…
