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.