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Category Archives: Teamwork

Conflict - who needs the traction?

Friday, May 4, 2007

We’ve discussed, here, the value of conflict in the workplace. Mary Parker Follett was probably the first modern advocate of using dissension and diversity of opinion to give an organization traction for understanding and generating effective approaches to dealing with the challenges it faces. Her ideas bear close study, and we will be returning to [...]

Also filed in Management Skills | | Comments (2)

Keeping the ducks in line

Thursday, January 25, 2007

Nearly 80 years ago, Mary Parker Follett, perhaps (as often mentioned in these pages) the greatest management thinker of all, elaborated what she called the “law of the situation.” She did this to help managers develop more effective ways to organize their businesses, to distribute power in them, and even to give orders. . .

Also filed in Communication, Mary Parker Follett | | Comments (0)

The games we play

Wednesday, December 27, 2006

Management fads tend to generate a sort of mass hysteria that can cause otherwise reasonable people to do remarkably stupid things. For the business community this is possibly nowhere more clear than with respect to the peculiar way it approaches the idea of teamwork.
The concept of teamwork has grown into a mini-universe of businesses that [...]

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Team building

Friday, December 22, 2006

While teams and the ability to build and manage them can be vital for many businesses, it can be overdone. The idea has attracted so much attention that it is in danger of becoming a subcomponent all by itself of the consulting industry. The key thing, however, with teams as with all else in management, [...]

Also filed in Organizational Leadership | | Comments (0)

Developing Team Spirit

Monday, December 4, 2006

Developing a sense of team spirit and loyalty in employees is the same challenge whether they are all located in the same facility, or are dispersed around the world - failure to do it properly can result in unfocused organizations with dispirited, high-turnover workforces even when they are collocated. Team spirit doesn’t come simply from rubbing shoulders, car-pooling, or taking turns bringing in the morning pastries or coffee. It comes from making employees meaningful members of an important, worthwhile collaborative enterprise. Presuming that your corporation’s purpose is important and worthwhile, then developing team spirit around it involves communication and feedback.

Also filed in Communication, Organizational Leadership | | Comments (0)