Fourth Lecture: TEAM

Together

Each

Achieves

More

In any organization, there has to be a shared vision. The question can be asked, can there be an organization of one? And the simple answer is, no, there cannot. And so, organizations may adopt the philosophy of Ubuntu which means, “I am because we are.” My reply to that is, “there is no we without me.” So, individual is no less important than the organisation. As much as interpersonal communication skills are valued, one must firs develop intrapersonal communication skills…can there be one without the other?

One reason that intrapersonal communication should be practiced is to uncover core values at the individual level. Knowing what your core values are influences or probably determines your vision which sets you on a mission to achieve your goals and set your objective/s.

For example: One of my core values is FREEDOM. And though all you can see is a meek little Indian girl bumming around UWI with her knapsack on her back-inside me is a vision. My vision is to inspire change in society by demonstrating that it is only I our minds that we are not bound by convention; that in reality we are all free, if we choose to be; otherwise, continue living in mental slavery. Thus, my mission is to approach my academic career in the most unconventional of ways. I will prove my intelligence not by modelling but, by shaking every instance of instability then offer a solution. My goals are: Graduate with honours, use the principles of my studies in the business of sustainable food production. My objective is to impart all that I’ve learnt unto a younger generation.

Understanding this concept at the individual level paves the way for effortless understanding of how this works at the organizational level.

Now an organization communicates internally and externally. For internal communication there are several stages:

1.       Forming – at this stage, organisational communication is at a low intimacy level
2.       Storming – here there is high intensity in communication
3.       Norming- at this stage is when reality manifest or where the group emerges as a formed organisation
4.       Performing-the organisation now becomes an industry
5.       Disbanding – all good things must eventually come to an end

      External communication is more focused on:
1.       Market intelligence
2.       Collaboration
3.       Re-engineering
4.       Enlightened Self Interest

*     *     *

There was a class exercise; we played a game called Atoms. The aim of the gain is to be the last man standing. So we all stood up as a class of twenty. Whatever number is called, we find ourselves groups equaling that number. The first number was ten, the second five and after that people started dropping out. Now, at the first mention of the game I thought again, “I must win.” Well, it turns out that I was the atom up for grabs. Others grabbed me in an effort to stay in the game, which made it effortless for me to also remain. At the end, another girl and I were left standing. So we won atoms.   

We also did another exercise where we had to build a self sustaining straw tower. The group was divided in two. Of course the group that I was in did not win but I learned some valuable lessons.

Lessons: From the game of atoms- It’s all about self preservation, both at the individual and organizational level and for one to preserve themselves, there has to be constant re-evaluation of relationships and there has to be common ground or shared vision. There was even more emphasis placed on shared vision and common grounds in building the straw tower. Most wanted to scale the heights but only few of us tried to engineer a solid base. For an organisation to be able to survive, it must be built on solid grounds – core values, visions, mission, goals and objectives-as simple as they may sound are the foundations upon wich organizations, industries, and economies are/ought to be built. Another lesson from straw tower-say what needs to be said to get done what needs to be done.