Team building?

[Tanemon]

Any people here have experience with building teams - groups of people committed to a particular purpose & working together?

(Could a social, cultural or business project, a performing group, etc)

What do you believe makes a team work in the longer run (a year, or years)?

[ssandra]

What I believe is very important:

- Same goal
- Clear leadership (even if it changes between the group, somebody has to be in charge / take responsability)
- Outline of responsabilities
- Clear goals and time lines.

[Tanemon]

Thanks for the response. I'm wondering how you feel communication fits in?

Also, with someone in charge (and even if the role rotates, over time, amongst the tem), should team members make the commitment to bow to the decisions and directives of the current leader?

[ssandra]

Originally Posted by Tanemon

Thanks for the response. I'm wondering how you feel communication fits in?

Good communication is ofcourse very important. One rule that you could put in place regarding this is:

Always assumes that what the other person says is meant in the most positive way possible.

If you feel it is not, first ask for clarification, don´t get upset or anger.

Originally Posted by Tanemon

Also, with someone in charge (and even if the role rotates, over time, amongst the tem), should team members make the commitment to bow to the decisions and directives of the current leader?

Yes definately. Otherwise this can be the thing for the team to fall apart over. There should be openness for discussion of course, but if you only have discussions you reach no conclusions.

In my experience that is why meetings from voluntary clubs (such as a soccerclub always take hours and hours without (sometimes) a conclusion. Whereas in a coorporative environment it takes less time and there is a conclusion and action points (normally)

You can also have "leaders" for each area.. if it concerns the website A is in charge, if it concerns sales or marketing B is in charge etc.

[Tanemon]

Ssandra (or anyone reading this), can you describe some illustrative examples of team building that has worked out well?

[ssandra]

Originally Posted by Tanemon

Ssandra (or anyone reading this), can you describe some illustrative examples of team building that has worked out well?

lol... you´re not trying to get us to write you your blog are you???

[Tanemon]

Originally Posted by ssandra

lol... you´re not trying to get us to write you your blog are you???

LOL No. Different motivation.

I'm no expert, and will not attempt to pass myself off as one (in a blog or otherwise).

I've got 15 years' worth of team/project experience - some projects having worked out well, some not. I'm re-assessing my own experience. In doing so, I can get myself caught up in some mental loops and blind alleys. That's why I'm looking for other people's perspectives... perspectives on the real world of experience, not just theories.

I appreciate your input, so far.