Abstract Structure for Importance of Teamwork.

I understand this topic is somewhat controversial when trying to write a research report in regards to the building industry. It is an interesting challenge and am excited to formulate a proper format that is an analysis report, while at the same time relaying all the important details I believe emulate the perfect team and in turn increased productivity and results.

The format I have in mind at the current moment is, to write a mixture between a report and a book. I have formatted my blog in a way similar to the report outlining certain articles such as "the importance of teamwork", "trust", and "Communication". This would include a structure as follows.

Introduction displaying the importance of teamwork, including (at this moment) an analysis on productivity within the company I am working with throughout the summer. Zirnhelt Timber Frames developed a program that tracks exactly how many man hours went into any given activity that you log in your time book. If I can use this data and combine it with my experience with the company to prove the efficiency of teamwork I believe that is a proper place to start.

2. Belief
I would like to format certain beliefs I have, that increase the results of a team. This will outline and tie together the next four chapters.

3. Trust
I believe the concept of trust is an important part of teamwork as I have displayed through the blog most often using Steve Jobs to exemplify this.

4. Communication
Communication is teamwork. Without communication you may as well be working alone.

5.Goals
A group of people working towards a common goal is instrumental to teamwork and success.

6. Uncertain
I have a few topics I believe are important including, attention to results, adversity to conflict, and developing the right team, steps to putting together a proper structure including interviewing and chemistry within a team.

7. Research Analysis
I would like to finish with an analysis on a Large scale team performance. As of right now I have a contact PM with Conoco Phillips who says their best PM in the company has two psychologists  working at his side throughout his projects. I believe his success within the company can be attributed to the psychologists creating an undeniable team environment that drives success.

Conclusion!

I would appreciate feedback on this. Point out issues you see, or improvements. If you can take the time to read any of my posts it would be much appreciated and help you better understand what some of these  information that these "chapters" will be included.
Looking at this and many other issues from numerous people's perspectives will help me produce a better paper and is an example of the effectiveness of teamwork!

Thanks Troops!

The Communication Link

Throughout the past year I have had the opportunity to both play and then coach the University Hockey team.  The transition period for me has been life changing as it has changed my perspective on so many angles throughout life.  I used to look at the game from one perspective, but as I made the transition into coaching I saw the game not only from one dimension but rather five or six. Aside from creating individual skills of players, I began to recognize the importance of the relationships and personalities throughout the team and organization. The interactions between not only the internal players on the ice but also the coordination of coaches to structure a system that attributes the play of the team, the proper scheduling of hotels, buses and community events. The relay of information between the different levels and people in the organization is crucial to the performance of a team . These are all vital communication links that create a positive atmosphere and attitude that is necessary for the team to succeed.

One of my best line mates I ever played with through my life would find an opening in the ice and YELL for the puck. It would distinctly make my job easier and the stats and overall success of our line and the team was better because of it.

The communication on the ice between hockey players can help process thoughts for the other player that he would not have been able to conceptualize otherwise. This creates trust, confidence, increased effort and efficiency, all of which are positive attributes to a winning team or company.



To put this into perspective for our particular class to relate with is the communication in our physics class, the relationship between Collin and Dan. In every lab Dan has a quiz from Collin, they understand exactly what the other is teaching, and how to tie their lessons in sync with each other. Collin is often in touching base  in our class, presenting himself to any issues that Dan or the class may have for him. I feel the link of communication has led the class in particular to be completed with ease while still attaining a vast amount of knowledge.

Imagine if we had a class taught by two teachers who do not communicate. Would the overall product the teachers produce for us be anywhere as effective and a positive experience.   

This is a small scale example but the positive outcome of this was possible from good communication as well as other positive teaching methods by the two teachers.

In closing to this article I would like you to consider a hypothetical situation.

You work with ten people. If you can take steps towards 

making all 10 of your coworkers be 10% better at their job, 

would you even need to do yours?

Trust

In the same interview with Steve Jobs I had used in the previous post, he describes it quite simply by saying "Teamwork is dependent on trusting the other folks to do their part without watching them all the time, but trusting that they will come through with their part."-Steve Jobs

This is the biggest difference between a small business entrepreneur and a large business entrepreneur. If you can't trust others around you to take care of their role without double checking every piece of product or response that go through the company, you can only grow so big so fast. Not only will trust speed up productivity and moral among surrounding employees but now your energies can go into other important avenues. When people are given free reign to make decisions and make an impact their personal passion and performance will increase.

The application of trust can also easily be displayed in a defensive team roles in sport's. When you take on the responsibilities of other's because you don't trust them to do their role, you are compromising the quality of your role, and in turn the quality of the team's overall performance.

When you are around people you trust you are able to try things you otherwise wouldn't. Perhaps failing in the process, but you would have the confidence that the people around you will support you and help you towards success. Failure is an important part of progression, the ability to push through repetitive failure until finding success, is often attributed by having people around you who will support you and cover your failures.

An Interview Where Teamwork Came out on Top

I had a job interview on the weekend passed with Zirnhelt Timber Frames. This company specializes exclusively in timber frame projects, a very niche, competitive industry. Yet Zirnhelt has not had to sway away from their passion and still remain exclusive to timber frame projects. We met on their new site in 150 mile house right on the main highway with multiple shops already on the site with plans to build more over the next year.

 "Everything we do is up for debate, I am not right all 

the time and neither would I want to be. I don't see 

this as my company but rather a growing organism that 

I am lucky enough to be a part of."

"Damon Zirnhelt"

Throughout the interview they blew me away with talk of a building made from 100% wood products with minimal carbon footprint, prefabricated houses they have built being helicoptered into remote sites, energy modeling on numerous projects maximizing on not only efficiency but also budget and I could not help but think if I was working with them I could write an interesting research paper on any of the topics above. However nearing the end of the interview Damon (One of the two Brother-partners) said to me "Everything we do is up for debate, I am not right all the time and neither would I want to be. I don't see this as my company but rather a growing organism that I am lucky enough to be a part of."

Damon models an attitude towards his company similar to that of Steve Jobs, everyone has ideas and in collaboration, he understands the final product will come out better with multiple people looking at similar problems and combining different solutions.

This comment brought me right back to the reason I want to do my research report on teamwork, there could be other companies that want to exclusively do timber frame design, fly prefab cabins into remote sites, energy model their buildings. But there are only so many companies that can and the one in this case that in my opinion the one that implements teamwork and collaboration with passion is the company that produces the best product and reputation.

The issue at hand is removing the "opinion " in that sentence.

I am passionate about teamwork, and am enjoying writing this blog. But is it feasible to base a research report around teamwork? Secondly is it an important enough topic?  What is the key ingredient to teamwork? the formula for success....

If I can collect information and data to lead us to the conclusion of the effectiveness of teamwork, it not only applies to a small industry but potentially to the effectiveness of individuals in many aspects of their lives. You  work in collaboration with people all the time, people rely on your punctuality, efficiency, attitude, and so much more. How often do you look at your effectiveness as a team player, and the positive results the people around you may have which in turn will results from positive gains for yourself.

My goal upon the completion is to create a undeniable recognition in the reader's mind that the application of teamwork can not only provide efficiency and better results but also the happiness of individuals.


Comment with ideas and opinions on how to prove teamwork is an important aspect of efficiency in the industry, and vote on the poll on the top right corner of blog.

Thanks!

Mankind- Teamwork, Fulfillment and Happiness

Teamwork is a human characteristic. The human instinct is to be a social animal that has relied on it's intellect and the ability to apply idea's and goals together in order to survive. In conjunction happiness is a feeling that may be nothing but a fleeting memory if you were to be living in solitude. We are programmed to be a part of a group of people, from a family, working environment or a community, our natural instinct is to communicate and work together in order to survive.

When you do something purely for yourself you may be filled with feelings of pride, excitement, or even powerful, however I would not often associate the word fulfillment with an act solely for yourself. I associate this argument with whether money can buy happiness or not. No matter what amount of money you have if you don't have someone to share it with there will be a void deep down happiness. This happens because in order to create a feeling of fulfillment and ultimately happiness over an extended period you must use your wealth and resources to help other's benefit even if it is as simple as your close family.  Until the money is used to help other people, friends, relatives, or the needing, the pure acts of self satisfaction will be nothing more than a short feeling of satisfaction like an addicts quick fix dosage of drugs. Working as a team or for other people around you, is simply he easiest way to experience the feeling of fulfillment. This can be displayed in as simple of a form from as the famous tale of Ebeneezer Scrooge in Charles Dickens "A Christmas Carol". The moral of this story is to help others in order to find true happiness, and the interesting thing about this example in particular is this book was written in 1843. One hundred and seventy years ago, and since it has been written has been a household story recreating in many movies and shows. The application of the moral behind this story has not changed no matter how much our way of life has been altered through the different eras of human existence since the book was written.

Teamwork and doing things for others is an attribute of mankind that has gave us the ability to not only survive but thrive throughout every part of the planet over the centuries.

Application of Teamwork

In an interview with Steve Jobs describing his opinion on "Success" he describes in depth the importance of harnessing a passion to persevere through adversity and then follows by saying " The second thing is, you need to be a good talent scout, because no matter how smart you are you need a team of great people. You need to build an organization that can eventually build itself, but you need great people around you".

Apple is the perfect example of creating an environment for their employees to feel like they are doing something greater than themselves. They go to work every day with a purpose and a passion that embodies the idea that they are the best and most innovative company in their field. The result is a team of people who apply themselves to do the best they personally can for a cause that they feel passionate about, something more than a pay cheque.

A vision, an idea, and a group of people around you that you believe in, trust, and will work hard for each other.  Creating a team environment within a company can be a game changer in any industry, increasing moral and ultimately productivity, quality, and profit. 

Introduction to Teamwork

Introduction to teamwork:

I would like to try and breakdown the concept of teamwork envisioned by the general public opinion from sports and small group efforts to large companies, communities, cultures and countries. My vision of teamwork embodies certain personal and group characteristics that are directly related to success. I would argue any success in human history has been a result of some level of teamwork even if it is an individual learning process of certain skills along the path to success. This is the reason in award winning acceptance speeches, the victor naturally does not talk about themselves but rather the people around him that have helped them get there. Teamwork comes in many different forms throughout life whether it is a relationship, playing team sports, working in a group, or simply your role as an individual in your community. Being a part of something bigger than yourself can be one of the best feelings in the world and often leads to fullfilment, happiness, and success.