"Team Work" WORKS

It is amazing to see how some teams flourish, in spite of having their difference of opinions and individual priorities including their own strengths and weaknesses. They somehow manage to keep their organization/project objectives in tact, and invariably manage to pull themselves out from any dire situation, thus keep their customer happy (most of the times). They are NOT top brass candidates, neither do they possess any extra ordinary skills, but are just simple people. YET they manage to pull some of the most difficult situations/projects, on regular basis, with no real fuss or ‘007’ like stunts. All the intellects watching them can get a feeling of "SHIT" management or "FLUKE" management!

To all aspiring guns, this is what "TEAM WORK" can help achieve or how "SHIT" delivery can be guaranteed on regular basis. "TEAM WORK" is one of the most difficult topics to discuss, just like guaranteed "SHIT" delivery, but here is a naive attempt.
BTW before decent readers boycott, "SHIT" == "Some How In Time"

Let us begin with this simple example…

Consider that a group of people take lunch together. In Indian context where food is oily / spicy, this is more relevant. All the members bring their lunch boxes full of spicy food.

Scenario I
They share their lunch with others, talk about different things – bottom line they enjoy their lunch together. After their lunch they leave.
FOR OUTSIDER: There is substantial spill-over on the table. Quite a messy table one would say!

Scenario II
One of them (say Mr. Z) suddenly realizes the spill-over and starts bringing paper napkins. He starts keeping his lunch box on the same. All of them share their lunch with others after their lunch they leave.
FOR OUTSIDER: The table now has one portion of it clean but there is still substantial spill-over. Still, quite a messy table one would say!

Scenario III
Mr. Z realizes that he brings more paper napkins than he needs, so he gives some of it to the members sitting around him. Now few of the members start keeping their lunch boxes on the paper napkins. After their lunch they leave.
FOR OUTSIDER: The table now has few portions of it clean but there are still some patches of spill-over. A bit messy table one would say!

Scenario IV
Mr. Z realizes the benefit of the paper napkins. So he starts bringing sufficient paper napkins that would help all the members on the table. All of them now use the paper napkins, while they enjoy their lunch together. After their lunch they leave.
FOR OUTSIDER: The table now has no or very little spill-over. A clean table one would say!


NOW, take a pause.
Just imagine the "table" as the "project" and
the people enjoying lunch as team members of the project and
"OUTSIDER" as the client.
This is how client actually looks at the project – they see at it, as a whole, not in bits and pieces.
Anyways moving forward…

Subsequent scenarios
There could be various subsequent scenarios

1. For instance Mr. Z can go on vacation, rest of the members assemble for lunch. Does any of the other members realize his absence and try to fill in Mr. Z shoes, meaning bring paper napkins and distribute it to all?
2. Does any of the other members get inspired by Mr. Z and also start bringing paper napkins?
3. Do other members bring paper napkins only for themselves or also carry a few extra, just in case?
4. Eventually does it happen that invariably most of the members bring sufficient paper napkins, so even if someone forgets or remains absent they have sufficient to cover the table?

Does, keeping a "CLEAN TABLE" at the end of the lunch session becomes a habit, a mission?
If YES, this is what we call as "TEAM WORK" else it becomes "FLUKE" or "HEROISM" or "007 STUNT".


Finally, I believe, "TEAM WORK" is 100% ART, there is no formula or logic, but for the entire magic to work one can use different scientific methods, as catalyst. Here are some of the key points about "TEAM WORK"

1. It is more like a partnership where understanding is mutual and actions are mutually beneficial.
2. It is more "GIVE" than "TAKE". This is again mutual, and not the same as always and only "TAKE" or always and only "GIVE". To be precise it is "symbiotic" than "parasitic" relation.
3. It is more about adapting to a situation than circumventing or giving up.
4. Every member thrives NOT to be on critical path or get out of it ASAP - this does not mean they avoid taking tasks on critical path.
5. You would rarely hear the members say "I did what I was told" but would always hear "We did what was expected to be done, at that moment".

That's it and That's That - SIMPLE!
So are you part of your team, or not - as yet?

Here are some more closing thoughts...ENJOY!