| Effective and sustainable teambuilding is necessary in | | | | believed that I would receive more than 30. His answer |
| today's marketplace where fewer people are being | | | | demonstrates that effective team building goes |
| required to do more work. More often than not, the | | | | beyond communicating the message, but must be |
| adage "Getting everyone rowing in the same direction" | | | | internalized by each team member. My next question |
| is associated with building effective teams. However, is | | | | was simply what is all of these "missed strokes" |
| this really true? If everyone is rowing in the same | | | | costing the organization? |
| direction, will the organization or the individual project | | | | Returning to the visualization of the boat being rowed |
| realize a dramatic return for everyone's results? | | | | by everyone towards the same point on the horizon, |
| For example, a recent trip to a large international law | | | | we presume that everyone is using the same oar |
| firm allowed me the opportunity to read an electronic | | | | where the paddle is hidden just below the water line. |
| sign with a picture of a boat and 8 oarsmen all rowing | | | | Yet, if all rowers would lift their oars, we might see that |
| together. I reflected upon this picture as I talked with | | | | some of the paddles have different lengths, shapes |
| the HR director who was sharing with me | | | | and sizes. Some paddles may even have holes in |
| management's philosophy. After he finished, I asked | | | | them. These paddles have changed because the |
| him this question: "If I were to survey 10 of your | | | | rowers have internalized communications differently |
| employees or 10% of the approximately 100 | | | | and their subsequent actions or behaviors are based |
| employees at this location and ask them to name the | | | | upon this internalization. |
| top 3 goals of the organization for the current year, | | | | Effective teamwork goes beyond knowing the overall |
| would I walk away with 3 goals, 30 goals or 100 goals | | | | team's direction. Constant monitoring of the "paddles" is |
| or more?" He responded that he would like to say 3 | | | | necessary to ensure that during the "rowing process" |
| because of all the ongoing work that has been done | | | | the paddles have not changed and are still delivering |
| and is being done to communicate the goals, but he | | | | the most efficient and effective results. |