There is no “I” in “Team”….but there’s a “me”!
I cringe at the word “leadership” – or at least I feel fits of hysteria boiling up inside of me. To explain, I spent my undergrad years in what was called the Leadership Academy, which was a joke of an honors program. For four years I had leadership theory shoved done my throat only to walk away with a certificate and the feeling that anyone can function in a group as long as they have common sense and an understanding of collaboration.
So, when having to read Verzuh’s “Building a High-Performance Project Team” and Lipnack/Stamps “Working Smart: A Web Book for Virtual Teams” by eyes glazed over and I returned to my happy place that I haven’t visited since I graduated college. But I’ll digress from all of that.
The important thing to remember is that there are leaders and there are followers. Sometimes we are more of one than the other, sometimes we can play both roles. If you are going to function as a team, which all three authors hit upon, you need to have trust and respect; each individual needs to be treated fairly; and everyone needs to identify that they’re contributions are important. We all come from different walks of life and have different opinions and one can not be closed minded (check your egos at the door type thing).
All Verzuh, Lipnick, and Stamp are providing is a “how to” guide on a successful team, models and theories to provide ideas of functionality, and encouragement that though things may be stressful, its all part of the process. You have to keep in mind, though, that there are several models for project teams, its just finding one that suits you. To me, they all seem the same.
I do have to mention that working as a ‘virtual team’ is a new concept to me. It’s pretty much all the same leadership rules (respect, honesty, trust, etc.), but there is a heightened awareness of communication. It cannot be stressed more that if you are collaborating on a project and your team members are half way across the state/country/world, then you need to establish strong communication ties and constantly make sure everyone is on the same page. It’s the whole social media thing in regards to project management. In order for it to be successful, the team needs to understand the role that each plays and how to maintain a continuous connection with each other.
In the end, I didn’t get very much from these articles that I haven’t heard before. I understand that it is important to someone somewhere, but the concepts are the same and the end result is that a project team needs to be a well oiled machine where all of its parts work together for a result. We all have our separate functions, but without the other people that we work with, we would be just a sole wheel turning and not producing anything.
Why did you not recieve information or reaction from some of these articles? Where do you think you would fit if you were on a virtual team? Where do you think the future of Virtual Teams are headed?
I think it has a lot to do with what Michelle (I think it was her) said about being a natural born leader. I can take a leadership role when it is needed, and I can be a follower when I believe someone else makes a better leader. I know what my stengths are and I’ve worked in plenty of groups (pofessional and non) to know how to contribute and help guide it towards a goal. Like I said, all these models appear the same to me, that’s why I recieved nothing from them.
As far as virtual teams, I fit wherever the team requires me, whether its the “inner circle” or part of the extended family. Virtual Teams are the future. We already know that people work on projects when they are oceans apart (look at any research on disease). Did I answer everything? Thanks for your questions
I have a degree in Leadership. I went to the White House and asked to apply for President, showing them my degree.
Oddly enough they gave me an application. I have an interview next week.