Team Tip: It's About The Greater Good

We just completed another great event with a brand new client, WaMu or Washington Mutual for you non-locals. This is just the 3rd team that has completed our event at the highest level. One key theme that continues to emerge with our highest performing teams is that It's About The Greater Good.

Level 1 Collaboration - Teams start in competitive mode. They bond together only with themselves, they don't share information or maybe give mis-information, refuse to talk, are guarded and create strategies where they win and others lose. Individual teams perform, but rarely do they achieve the company goal or the highest score.

Level 2 Collaboration - Teams collaborate just enough to achieve the company goal. They talk to each other, they strike deals, they divide and conquer, they coordiate, they give feedback to each other or a central agency, and most importantly, they know they have achieved the company goal. They share information, yet teams continue to guard, withhold or time certain information such that they achieve the company goal AND they attempt to end up in first place. These teams score high, but they continue to leave revenue on the course.

Level 3 Collaboration - Teams collaborate to achieve the company goal AND maximize their revenue. It requires out of the box thinking, flexibility, working with new team members, selling your ideas to the other teams, leadership, organization and teamwork. 2x to 3x the results can be produced in the same or less time, yet it is much more complex to plan and execute. This requires a high degree of communication and trust to pull off a Level 3 collaborative solution. In addition, if you're exceptional at this game, you also find a way to keep your team just one step ahead.

Every group in the debrief says the new teams gel when they know their purpose. When they know it's about how to achieve the company goal and to maximize revenue, teams are willing to give up resources, share resources, commit to go the extra mile and volunteer to make sure it just gets done.

If you're having a challenge with one of your teams, ask what is the purpose of the team? Then check, is the purpose about the greater good or just to further that single team along?

Comments

[Ankush Gupta]

John,

Hello. My name is Ankush Gupta and I am Senior Manager - Business Solutions with Brainvisa, Inc. a leading custom elearning solutions provider. I happened to come across your blog and found it extremely insightful and interesting. I will link to you from my blog. :) Funnily enough, we have both chosen the same identical templates as you will see when you visit my blog which is at:

http://elearning.typepad.com

The blog is called 'The Learned Man' and is an online resource about the latest & greatest in the training & eLearning industry.

Do have a look at my blog. I would love to hear your thoughts and feedback.

Would also love to talk to you for a few minutes if you can pass along your phone number to me,

Cheers & Best wishes,

Ankush

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Ankush Gupta
Senior Manager, Business Solutions
Brainvisa Technologies Ltd.
E-Mail: ankushg@brainvisa.com
URL: http://www.brainvisa.com
Office: +91.020.26114729 / 30 Ext. 262
Fax: +91.020.26114728
Cell: +91.98902.48313