Team Building Maneuvers and the Team's Leadership

Conquering the Challenge of "Change" throughdo so - how each level within the organization
Team Building Maneuversmanages and leads the people and process,
Nothing is as upsetting to your people as change.including logistics. It requires a fair, consistent and
Nothing has greater potential to cause failures,clear communication to everyone. Communication
loss of production or failing quality. Yet nothing isis the greatest resource in all of life, not only in
as important to the survival of your organizationorganizations, but in all we set out to accomplish.
as your people and their response to change.Effective communications is leadership's greatest
Research tells us that 70 percent of all changetool to win its people, systems, processes and
initiatives fail (Source: Author Peter Senge, "Themanagement of functions.
Dance of Change," Doubleday Press, Toronto,As The Five Elements are inter-related, no leader
Ont. 1999, p. 3-4). Beyond a doubt, the likelihoodcan either ignore or fail to understand the
of your change initiative failing is overwhelming.constructive/destructive nature of each element.
Since 2004, I've studied, facilitated and taughtVictory will overcome "failure" and "success" will
change processes and experience tells me thatfall upon those who analyze and clearly
change efforts fail for one, two, or all of theunderstand The Five Elements. Therefore, by
following three reasons:asking who offers fairest reward and punishment,
1. Failure to properly define the Future Picture andwhose troop, team or organization is best trained
the impact of the change.and led, whose equipment and resources are
All too often, the "change" initiative addresses themore efficient and plentiful, who can deliver and
symptoms of current challenges and problemscommunicate order/leadership smoothly,
rather than the future the organization wants oreffectively and thoroughly, who has better
needs to create. Change is about creating ageographical/weather advantages (culture and
desired future, not just correcting current problemorganizational climate), who has more resourceful
symptoms.leaders and followers - teams, whether the
2. Failure to properly assess the current situation,appointed leader/leadership is wiser, more
in order to determine the scope within thestrategic in their thinking, tactical in their approach
requirements for change.to engage and has virtue... the winner is clear,
Organizations perpetually assess the currentdefined and understood.
situation against current measures ofConstructing it all to Enhance Leadership for
performance. However, change is not the sameTeamwork as an Essential Goal
as problem-solving or project management.What am I referring to in the term "Leadership
Rather, managing change is about moving anfor Teamwork?" Organizations can try to
organization strategically forward to achieve itsinfluence leaders to work as a team, but only
vision of the future.leaders themselves can make it work. Why should
3. Failure to effectively manage the transition ofyou want to be a team-oriented leader, and how
moving from the present to the future.can you take steps to make it happen, even
Experience demonstrates that failure towhen the status quo is not favorable? A strong
effectively manage the transition/transformationmotivator to becoming a better cohort with your
need is the leading cause of failure for strategicleaders-colleagues-peers is to take stock of what
change initiatives. The change itself is not the"not" collaborating is costing you during the tough
problem. Change is an event; it is situational:times (and, even the not so tough times).
deciding to implement a new system, target aAs you attempt to lead others and yourself, it is
new market, acquire or merge two organizationalimportant to keep in mind your quintessential
cultures (Source: Author William Bridges, "Managingintention to enhance, deepen and strengthen the
Transitions: Making the Most of Change," Addisonspirit of "we are absolutely on the same team,
Wesley, Don Mills Ont., p.3). The problem occurssounding with one unified voice, and committed to
with what happens within the gap between theachieving the same outcome/ Future Picture for
present and future, after the "change" and beforeone another." Integrate the improvement of the
you get to "there." The reality of change is thatquality of leadership for effective teamwork into
change is about people not structures - peopleyour objective, strategy and tactics. Include it in
are the reasons for stop gaps in change initiatives!the vision and mission and ensure that all
Failure to successfully execute often comes frommembers across each level of the organization
seeing the change as solely structural, so onceunderstand and can communicate it without fail. It
the new system is designed and ready formust not "only" be written on a fancy picture and
implementation, the new organization is agreedplaced on the wall (the all too common
upon and the doctrine papers are signed toinspirational). It must run like blood through veins
legalize the "deal," everyone, including the CEO,and become as important as the air we breathe.
walks away from what is consideredExpress your value of Leadership for Teamwork
(prematurely) a "done deal." This is a mistake thatand team fortitude by ensuring that the cost
goes on all too often like a broken record. Historyfactor is not as important in the decision to
is full of examples of organizations and teamsremain on a continuum to train organizational
that failed when experiencing changingbehavior, transformational leadership, strategic
environments (most of them are now extinct).execution and team building maneuvers as the
The secret to successfully managing change,decision to make all allocations to do so. The cost
from the perspective of the people within theof not doing it, even when things are tough,
organization and their teams, is "definition" andoffers a far more potential for failure.
"understanding." To make it clear, I'll explain themIf you overlook Leadership for Teamwork and
in subsets.effective team building maneuvers by focused
Definition and Understanding for the "WHAT" inexclusively or excessively on the outcome you
Teamswant teamwork to accomplish, you'll place your
It is important to understand that not everyoneteam and organization in a position to neglect the
who works together or in close proximity is ameans to your end and eliminate the
member of a team. This concept is a misnomersolution-centric outcomes in your future. This
for a lot of people. A clear explanation of a teamwould be like a U.S. Marine purposely neglecting to
is a group of individuals who are interdependentadequately care for his weapons while on the
with respect to intelligence, information,battlefield.
transferable skill sets, resources, and tools andHow you think about each individual and team in
who seek to combine their efforts to achieve athe organization is the most critical aspect in
shared-vision towards a common goal. A team,Leadership for Teamwork. By leading your own
for instance, is either building or falling apart. Anthoughts, you begin leading in the most significant
essential aptitude for true team building and theway. So discipline yourself to think about those
maneuvers they require is leading the team intoyou are responsible for leading as members of
building on a continuous basis. Team buildingyour team, and not as your problems,
maneuvers lead a group into higher levels of teamadversaries or competitors. You have to "mentally
spirit, cooperation and interpersonalembrace" them as for you, and not against you,
communication. Building teams is the process ofparticularly when they demonstrate difficult
developing on the team-dynamics andconduct. This is the truest form of selflessness
interpersonal relationship of the people that comethat, in most cases, is forgotten.
together to make-up the unit. Team spirit eitherAn effective and easy tool to form the greatest
grows or it dies based on the dynamics of thedisciplines in Leadership for Teamwork is for
unit.everyone to do his best to interpret the
Teams have specific characteristics that should bebehaviors of others, however dissonant, as a sign
addressed:of a core challenge or initiative that needs
- Teams must be constructed to achieve aimmediate attention. It's important to realize that
shared-vision for a shared goal.behaviors are a form of communications to
- Team associates are interdependent regardingaddress Leadership for Teamwork and this action
some common interests; teams are thecan transform bad feelings of resentment into
instrument of sustained and enduring success inpositive organizational behaviors and gratitude. Our
leadership and management.President Barack Obama, the 44TH of the United
- Teams use strategic thinking, acting, andStates, used similar techniques to successfully win
influence - associates each possess the authoritythe elections to lead the American people;
to manage their own stimulus for change."CHANGE and Leadership for Teamwork!" His
- A team is a type of group, but not all groupsmessage rings true around the world and is also
are teams - team leaders know this to be true.being used to bring communities and
- Teams are formed to best facilitate learning andGovernments (also forms of teams) together in
peak performance while operating in a socialistways that at one time, would never have been
environment.thought of. Marcus Aurelius said, "Accept the
- Team associates are not responsible to "self,"things to which fate binds you, and love the
but to their team and its mission; their obligation ispeople with whom fate brings you together, but
to guide the unit to find its voice, whiledo so with all your heart."
strategically and flawlessly executing.This statement can be applied to teams and
- Teams learn to navigate positive transition todefines the true meaning of Leadership for
disseminate authority and power for change -Teamwork. The team that is not overwhelmed
and, they understand when it is a "must" to movewith being productive and full of life is far too
into greater levels of performance (the differencebusy dying. Life is born from every member and
between ordinary and extraordinary highled by every member. Regard Leadership for
performance teams).Teamwork as an essential means for overcoming
The difference between ordinary teams and highfear, winning change and leading through
performance teams are its people and theircooperation to experience peak performance that
abilities to overcome the fear of change. Hightakes the organization to the next level.
performance teams place a focus on the peopleHow to Lead your Team to the Next Level
who drive the overall performance within theWhat is the worst thing that could happen?
system: "how do you define a high-performanceActually, people will ask a more rhetorical question:
team?" A high performance team is a group of"what could happen?" But, they never really get
people who are led by an exception leader, ALLthe answer they are hoping for because of fear.
having complementary skills, who understand rolesMost of the time, just asking the question seems
and goals, and who are committed to achievinglike progress is being made or, a significant
those goals through a shared-voice, as one unit oramount of time (meetings to schedule more
body, to demonstrate strategic and flawlessmeetings that promotes nothing but time and
execution measures for overcoming changingtalk) planning and not executing. This is a question
environments.that simply hangs in the spam folders, lost in
This team format learns quickly how-to workinternet space or on a memo at the water cooler.
together toward mutual goals using their individualDon't let it become a technical "error message"
skills to support one another regardless of thethat requires someone else to get it done. Take
situation they are engaging or any amount ofthe initiative to go against the status quo and get
resistance to change from a fear of the unknownthe question answered yourself. Consider the
or an expectation of loss or failure.very worst thing that could happen; answering the
The "alpha" of the high performance team'squestion for yourself can and will stimulate
resistance to change is how they perceive themovement in a positive direction. Often, the
change. The "omega" is how well they areabsolute worst case isn't as bad as might think.
equipped to deal with the change they expect.What is the best possible outcome? Seriously,
The team member's degree of resistance iswhat is the best thing that could happen? Think
determined by whether they perceive the changeabout the scenario where everything goes
as good or bad, and how they expect the impactperfectly. Will this be your outcome? Maybe not,
of the change to be on the entire unit. Theirbut your worst case scenario likely won't happen
ultimate acceptance of the change is a function ofeither. It takes both of these questions to really
how much resistance the team member has andunderstand your situation. Chances are, your
the quality of their coping skills and their supportresults will be somewhere between the two. Once
system. The job role of the team leader is toyou have considered the range of possibilities, you
address their resistance from both perspectivesare in a better position to decide whether to
by helping each member reduce it to a minimal,proceed or not, and you will have definitely
manageable process level. The success of thereduced your fear of failure if you do take that
response depends on the leader's ability to lead bystep forward.
example, their level of trust from the membersNext, you can explore the development of a
on the team and their ability to persuade the"Memorandum of Understanding" (MOU) for the
members to overcome their resistance so theteam. This is designed for people to learn broadly,
unit can move ahead. When the leader is able toto inspire the service out of generosity for
communicate a low threat level and/or limited risk,others, and to prepare them to lead courageously
the member's perception will be one of trust forinto the future. A Memorandum of Understanding
engaging the objective. Simply, it will all comeencourages a perspective to become firmly
down to the leader's relationship with the team;grounded in the potential for successful growth
hence, the success of the team not only dependsusing a series of constructs - a portfolio
on its members, but also on the leadership theymanagement approach - that everyone buys into
follow.for effective deportment and forward
Definition and Understanding for Acceptingmovement. A Memorandum of Understanding
"CHANGE" on Teams and Organizationsacts as the blueprint for strategic leadership on
Now, we'll look at how teams can manage changethe teams and across the organization.
and fear, and overcome them both to perform atAre you wondering how to build an organization in
its peak as a unit, and pronounce its leadershipwhich executive leaders, team leaders, middle
style to permeate peak performance across anmanagers and front line staff will flourish? To build
entire organization. The "alpha" here begins byan environment where people, teams and
looking at change as an emotions state that isorganizations will flourish and achieve peak
synonymous with fear. Fear stipulates anperformance, you must get the best leaders to
uncomfortable emotional response to potentialpay close attention to the design of the elements
threats and a way of life. It is a basic survivalaround them (situational awareness).
mechanism that occurs in response to specificThe Memorandum of Understanding articulate a
stimulus of future events, such as worsening of alucid purpose, helps to create effective leadership
situation or continuation of a situation that isteams, prioritize their initiatives carefully, redesign
unacceptable. It needs to be addressed by theorganizational structures, employ strategic intent
leadership personnel in as much detail and as earlymeets strategic agility to result flawless and
as possible. Leadership must be able to providestrategic execution and, most importantly,
updates as things develop and become clearer ifintegrate all these tactics into one coherent
any chance is possible for overcoming the fearsstrategy.
that are the precursor for change.The Memorandum of Understanding must include
"Definition" is a two-way street. In addition tothe following constructs:
defining a problem that causes fear, team leaders- The Cardinal Rules,
need to get their members to a point that they- The Guiding Precepts,
feel comfortable defining the reasons behind their- The Forms of Disposition,
resistance. "Understanding," the "omega" here is- The General Orders,
also a two-way street. Team leaders must be- The Strategy Forward - Establishing Professional
prepared to clearly explain to their members whatMastery, and
is changing and why. They must also be clear- The Centers of Gravity.
about the member's reluctance. Here are a fewThe Cardinal Rules are a set of guidelines that are
things that the team leaders must be aware of:invaluable for people and organizations to follow
- Team leaders must not try to rationalize thewhile planning and executing at the strategic or
issues, but focus on opening and maintaining cleartactical level. These rules, once established by the
channels of communication with their teamindividual(s) or teams are the rules that govern
members so they understand what is coming andforward movement and must not change (i.e. To
what it means to them and the unit.manage by mind, lead by heart).
- Team leaders must be able to help theirThe Guiding Precepts are designed to inform
member gain a comprehensive understanding ofpeople what they should and should not be doing
the situation at hand, both the positives andin accordance with executing a well designed
negatives.strategy to win. They also inform of the reasons
- Team leaders must inform their members what"why" an action must occur and the repercussions
the change will be, when it will happen and why -should the individual and/or organization fail at
what is not changing and how the anchors on themeeting such a task (i.e. Unselfishness; this trait is
team (the characteristics, such as "trust" thatthe avoidance of providing for one's personal
holds the team together) will be affected as theycomfort and advancement at the expense of
face the winds of uncertainty and change.others. The comfort, pleasure, and recreation
- Team leaders must be able to understand thelevels should be placed above everything. Looking
specific fears of each member. What theirout for the needs of others is the essence of
concerns are and how strongly they feel aboutself-leadership).
the potential outcomes, both the positives andThe Forms of Disposition offer a substantive
negatives (do they perceive it as a good or a badtransformation in "thought" about how people
thing?).achieve a perspective on things in life. It refers to
The Bottom Line: Definition and Understandingan orchestrated, systemic and revolutionary new
Conquering the challenge of "change" throughworld-view resulting in a "change" of societies,
team building maneuvers requires innovation,cultures, and marketplaces due to behavioral
creativity and some good old fashion "leadership."perspective. This is today often called "systems
People yearn for ideas (big and small ones) andtheory," which sees a web of relationships
think that if they just had that one "right" idea forcoalescing to become something greater than the
the team or organization, success would surelyparts. Individuals must be able to look at things
come. Certainly, we can all do things to be morefrom a perspective that they are always changing
creative, but having ideas isn't the biggest, orand evolving into new forms - thinking
even first, source of our challenges."out-of-the-box!" We are doomed to a slow death
Think about it this way. You've experienced whatunless radical change occurs in the way we think.
is believed by you to be the greatest workshopChange your way of thinking or die a slow death
ever attended, so you go back to the workplace(i.e. Mistakes are a fact of life that requires an
to integrate what you've learned - only, youeraser; it is the ability to respond to error that
never do. You've thought about trying a newcounts. You can't live without an eraser).
approach to your meetings, but never did. You'veThe General Orders are broad, community-wide
had a great idea that never went anywhere."need statements," designed to encompass a
You've had an idea for a new process, but failedvariety of related issues in a person's life or within
to introduce it to other the leaders. The list canthe life cycle of an organization. These related
go on and on and you'll see that there's noissues are referred to as "Guiding Objectives,"
shortage of ideas or creativity that is stoppingwhich are specific items that need to be
you. What is stopping you is fear, the fear ofaddressed. The Guiding Strategies (developed to
change or the fear of failure. Either way you lookfit current and future circumstance) are the
at it, fear is the stimulus that stops great peoplemethods identified for addressing the Guiding
from doing great things - the action that isObjectives, and the Guiding Policies are the
required for successful progress in life and in thespecific action steps that are recommended to
workplace.implement the Guiding Strategies. The General
Change and Failure (Breakdown)Orders, all eleven of them, offer the ability to
Failure and success are the outcomes of change.explore implications in an open and reflective
No matter how you look at them both, they eachmanner and reinforce each other in providing a
have a constant that cannot go unnoticed,coherency and wholeness often lacking in life
"leadership." We cannot succeed at higher levelscycles (i.e. Know yourself as a "Leader" and seek
of performance if we maintain status quo, butcontinuous improvement).
inherent in change is the possibility that we mightThe Strategy Forward - Establishing Professional
fail or experience a breakdown in process. So anyMastery. The traditional values are the foundation
discussion of the "fear of change" or the "fear ofof the modern day; that was yesterday.
failure" needs to start with a discussion onTomorrow, you have an opportunity to create
transition and transformation. While there arecommitment and the needed momentum to
downsides and risks involved in change (includingestablish, publish, share, and teach a different set
the risk of failure) think of all of the positives thatof life's code, values, and ethics to journey into
can come from change:the future. After much hard work, you are
- Process Improvement to Leadership andprepared to develop a strategy to move forward
Management,and plan the next steps to target critical
- Overall Employee Performance Increases,successes for winning the Future Picture. What a
- Team Development, Transition andlegacy you will leave when executed with personal
Transformation,and professional bearing for others to follow. This
- Greater Satisfaction (Individual) - Personalis the way of the future. This is a new chapter
Proficiency,(i.e. Remove the Jars' Lid: Allow for profound
- Organizational Renewal - Professional Mastery,growth by employing Transformational Thinking to
andnavigate the maze of organizational politics - and
- Marketplace Expansion, and much more.the schedule to do so - to accept change).
And these are just a few. The next time you feelThe Centers of Gravity. Just as time changes, so
the fear of failure, think about how you feeldoes the internal and external influence in your life
about change and how it impacts your level ofand in the life cycle of an organization. The
fear. All change involves a certain amount ofCenters of Gravity are the dynamics within a
uncertainty and ambiguity and those twoprocess that offer the greatest impact on the
conditions provoke anxiety. This is a reason tooverall system when change happens. They offer
hold onto the past for lessons learned; it's familiar,a high level of "value" and return on your energy
and as the adage goes, "better what you know"investment." When combined with the concept of
versus whet you don't know." So, althoughparallel deposits (creating energy from various
change has the ability to promote new systems,perspectives in a short period of time), the
structures, organizations and teams, people willCenters of Gravity make possible the seemingly
always conform to the "same old~same old,"impossible task of realizing success in changing
unwilling to let go of the past. That is why lookingparadigms. The Centers of Gravity places
at the positives and keeping an open mind is sosignificant influence on the five established
critical to the success of experiencing change.epicenters of any changing system to receive
Structuring Failure and Success (Breakthrough)desired effects: Leadership, Processes,
One individual's failure is another individual'sInfrastructure, Population, and Action Units.
success; it's all based on a decision that "must" beIn summary, a Memorandum of Understanding,
made at some point. Sun Tzu, arguably theyour blueprint for strategic leadership, offers an
greatest military strategist that many still follow,opportunity to free up our actions as public
had his say on success and failure: "Considerationservants. It is empowering, it is enabling and it
and analysis of The Five Elements, "Dao" - Moralgrounds us in a public way on the fundamentals
Unity, "Tian" - Weather Condition, "Di" -that we all must share. There is no ethical malaise.
Geographical Condition, "Jiang" - Leadership Quality,It is important to realize that the new is not a
"Fa" - Discipline and Organization Structure, a mustfinding from what has been lost. Rather, we are
know for all commanders. Victory to those wholike the journey of the Scarecrow in the Wizard
understand and no victory to those who doesof Oz story in search of a brain (brain power in
not. The Five Elements will determine success orthis context); the Tin Woodsman in search of a
failure of conducting war."heart, and the Cowardly Lion in search of courage.
Here's an explanation of Sun Tzu's statementYour value system is intact and has been with
through comparison and an analytical lens. Theyou the entire way thus far. The Memorandum of
Five Elements will reveal the factors of successUnderstanding simply articulates and reaffirms the
and failure of all battle, namely: Moral Unity,core value and behavioral perspective that already
Weather Condition, Geographical Condition,underlie your personal and professional appearance
Leadership Quality, Discipline and Organizationand conduct to achieve significant growth.
Structure.Develop, learn and instruct the Memorandum of
Moral Unity determines the cohesiveness betweenUnderstanding well. It will make the difference
the ruler and his subjects, the leader and hisbetween winning and losing in every aspect of
followers, the general and his soldiers. Ultimately,your life - personally and professionally - and
to achieve full support by fellowman, putting asidemaintain a positive team building attitude.
life and death matters and share the view of theFinally, Maintain a Positive Team Building Attitude
ruler's is the goal of Moral Unity. Only when a viewTo lead most effectively, the leader's attitude
or decision is fully supported, can orders beneeds to be strongly and deeply rooted in the
carried out smoothly by the team.dynamics of the team and its fortitude,
Weather Condition such as summer/winter andparticularly when relating with individuals who are
drought/flood will have significant affects on howalso seeking to grow themselves and the
plans are executed. When weather is an elementorganization they are a part. The Memorandum of
that no one has any control, the best strategy willUnderstanding has been used to lead successful
be take full advantage of the conditions whentransformation efforts for organization and teams
able. Going against the force of nature may proveto achieve their goals in and away from the
rewarding when one overcomes, but it usuallyorganization and the battlefields of life. A
spells destruction.paradigm-changing approach, the Memorandum of
Geographical Condition here refers to distance ofUnderstanding concurrently addresses multiple
near/far, terrain/mountainous/flat regarding thedisciplines across the entire transformation life
battle space, wide/narrow the battle field andcycle; enabling leaders and teams help people build
whether the location chosen to engage the battlea stronger, more responsive and resilient
favors attack/defense.organizations.
This will limit the size, type and performance ofRather than relating to a series of ongoing
the troop. The same for business - this will alsoproblematic behaviors as a hindrance or as a
determine the team's reaction to the mission andthreat to your objective, relate to the
the amount of resources - people, process anddevelopment of your Memorandum of
management of initiative that will be required toUnderstanding as a guide for how you need to
win.build teamwork and team spirit and fortitude to
Leadership Quality (my favorite) concerns themeet the inevitable challenge of change and
general/commander's leading capability. There areeffective leadership.
five qualities of a good leader: "wisdom,If you would like to receive a copy of our
trustworthiness, benevolence and deportment,Memorandum of Understanding to guide you with
courage (both physical and emotional) anddeveloping your own, simply send me an email at
sternness (temperament)." These five qualities willGod Speed as you continue on your path to
affect the leading capability of a commander, hisexperience your own unique state of Leadership
culture and climate for organizational behaviorfor Teamwork, using team building maneuvers to
effectiveness within the environment and thetake your people and team to new levels and
efficacy and value of his command being carriedconquer the challenge of overcoming the "fears
out by the people under his leadership.of change" across the organizations and teams
Discipline and Organization Structure is the systemyou are leading.
of open communication and the vehicles used to