Six Habits of Highly Effective Teams Essay Example for Free

Six Habits of Highly Effective Teams Essay From this class, we have learned a lot about how to build up a team; the benefit and disadvantages of teamwork; communication between team members and training to improve teamwork, and so on. From Kohn’s book â€Å"Six Habits of Highly Effective Teams† I have learned six rules that make the team work effectively. The concepts are â€Å"strengthening emotional capacity to improve team relationship, expanding team self-awareness, practicing empathy and respectfulness, establishing and regulating team norms, thinking laterally, entrusting team members with appropriate roles. † (Kohn 2007) Next, I will combine with my team experiences to talk about the six rules. First of all, the concept â€Å"strengthening emotional capacity to improve team relationship† demonstrated the relationship between team menbers and team leader is important. A good relationship in a team is a sense of trust between the team members and keeping team identity and team efficacy. These three conditions require the teams ability to create a good emotional atmosphere and management to create emotional norms, and develop team emotional intelligence. Under this good emotional atmosphere, team members can understand each other, adapt to each other and respect each other. When the team members come up with different ideas, they can also consult, find out a way that everyone agrees with, and they can trust each other. This is exactly the right atmosphere in my family team. When we have some different ideas about travel, my uncle will give everyone a paper to write down their thought, and then I will read those thoughts in front of everyone. Our family member will discuss the advantages and disadvantages for every plan and finally decide where to go, which way is the best one for us. So, we understand the personal feelings of the team members and we should establish the norms of mutual understanding to encourage members, in considering the problem and using the empathy approach. The team leader is an important part to build up a good atmosphere. When members disagree with the team decision, the leader should not always think the worst, and should try to find out why the members have different ideas and listen to them carefully. Facing the problem behavior, the team leader should point out the problem immediately, resolve contradictions with a sense of humor. When one or two people disagree with the team decision-making, we usually use the simple way; the  minority is subordinate to the majority. But sometimes, if we choose to stop and listen to opposing views, we may gain an unexpected, new and good idea. The most important points are respecting individuality and different points of view, not disparaging others, recognizing the members contribution, let them know that the team consider their ideas. One of the advantages in my family team is our team does not ignore the views of anyone, that we can exchange different ideas in an equal environment. Team members can feel the team focus on them; there is a sense of belonging. Second, â€Å"expanding team self-awareness†. Kohn in his book mentions, â€Å"The essence of interpersonal empathy and effective empathetic behavior in organizations. The skill’s essential characteristics include: seeking first to understand. Being other-oriented. Feeling â€Å"with† the other person or other people. Listening actively† (PP 109). He also mentions, â€Å"a team needs a name†. I am agreeing with this. A company’s goal or slogan often presents the spirit of their team. If a company can create the value of innovation, the employees of the enterprise can feel proud as an member of the company. such as Apple company which leading electronic technology trends, Apple’s employees that they work for change the society. And if a company needs a staff, then the staff will feel very proud, has a great sense of belonging. Also, employees that are interested in their own work and achieved excellent results, the completion of the work will bring him a sense of pride. In my family team, we also have a slogan, which is â€Å"I love my family†. We build up a group in social network, everyone can post their mood, thoughts and photos on it. Even though I am in the United States, they c an know my recent life. Third, â€Å"practicing empathy and respectfulness†. Empathy is a very important communication skill. In an enterprise, the employees may come from all over the world, and they have different backgrounds, experiences, hobbies, positions and capacity. Encountering problems, human’s nature will always proceed from their positions, and thus conflicts may arise. If the team members could be mutual understanding, standing on each others position envisage the problem, the contradictions may easily be mitigated. In my family team, we also meet some problems too. Sometimes during our vacation, the schedule will change occasionally, but we may didn’t come up with a backup before. Argue will begin. But luckly, the communication between my family members are patient and moderate. We are know each other a lot and we  understand our common goal is a good vacation, let everybody enjoy the vacation. And we all love our family, sometimes we are even willing to compromise our views for the harmonious atmosphere of the family. Fourth, â€Å"establishing and regulating team norms†. If a team does not have a system, then the team members do not have rules that can be followed. This is a terrible thing. Such as a game, if not the rules of the game, we do not know who are the losers who are the winner. When a project get a good harvest because of staff’s efforts, the leader should be know how to share the benefits with team members. Because to judge the leadership achievements is not focus on how much work the leader take, but what kind of performance he lead a team to be success. Therefore, the higher the teams achievements, the values of leadership are more obvious. When the leadership share this honor and achievement back to his staffs, the staffs will be grateful for a team and thank for they have such a leader. Fifth, â€Å"thinking laterally†, as Kohn mentions â€Å"even though task oriented project have performed in the past, and with a little thinking, they will be done the same way in the immediate future†¦ solutions that work tend to be and should be repeated. However, clients or organizations themselves have a need for innovation. They are looking for far more than simple bodies with requisite skills to handle tasks that keep the operation running smoothly† (PP 142). I really appreciate this point of view; this is my favorite part in this book. Because of I am very interested in creativity and novelty. I even think that human development and invention cannot be separated from the creativity and innovation. Lateral thinking is to b ring vitality and creativity. Employees’ lateral thinking lead the company can often produce surprising. Sixth, â€Å"entrusting team members with appropriate roles†. It is very important for an effective team to put a right person in a right position. A team leader should know how to identify the strengths and weaknesses of the team members, and to arrange them in the most appropriate position, so that they can stimulate their fullest potential. An employee is a non-essential role; the employee is not the role of positioning. Role of career planning is a basic, workers must consciously and autonomy in accordance with the role planning to develop themselves, had better establish a roles incentives. According to this mechanism, perhaps their subordinates jobs cannot go beyond the manager, but as a good role, work independently, the remuneration  may surpass manager; according to the managers role responsibilities analysis the subordinates are more competent, there must be a mechanism to enhance the subordinates. Above all of six habits, I have a clearer understanding of efficient team. Efficient team has a development goals to complete the task, the mutual trust of the team members under a effective leadership, good communication, work together positively. The building of an efficient team can be carried out from the following aspects. Through systematic analyzes, help the team member understand themselves in depth, explicit team members have advantages and disadvantages, work preferences, their different way to solve problems, the basic values ​​of differences; final get formed share the same beliefs and consistent view of the purpose of the team between the team members, in order to establish the rules of the game to running a team. The team also needs to provide education opportunities for employees and listen to the employees’ views, encourage employees creativity. An effective team needs division of labor and cooperation. Enhanced the leadership. First, leaders must be a good example, to cohesion a team fully. Also, team cohesion is invisible spiritual strength, the cohesion of the team from the inner dynamics of the team members, from the consensus values. If we can use the value to lead the team, the team will be more effectively. Reference Kohn S, OConnell V. 6 Habits Of Highly Effective Teams [e-book]. Career Press; 2007. Available from: eBook Collection (EBSCOhost), Ipswich, MA. Accessed November 27, 2012.

Personal Narrative: Football Underdogs to Champions Essay -- essays re

Football Underdogs to Champions I had tried out for the High School football team but unfortunately was cut. I worked hard over the summer and even passed on the family vacation to North Carolina to attend football conditioning at the school. Even with all of my effort put towards running and weightlifting I was still cut. That however did not stop me from playing the sport I love. I had heard of a local pigskin football league that allowed any teen my age to play. I immediately conversed with my parents and received their permission to sign up. When I first went to get my equipment I met my first coach. Coach Andy was a larger gentleman with a muscular frame. He had a bald head and slightly crooked teeth. He seemed very friendly when I met him and found out he had played football during his high school and college career. I also met the president of the pigskin league Mr. Kemp. He was fitting other players for their shoulder pads and helmets. While I was getting fitted he noted that I was a larger player and asked why I had not played high school football. I took the comment as a compliment and explained the story to him. I had also found out that my team would be the Cowboys. Through various conversations at the fitting, I found out that the Cowboys was the team in which late arrivals and new players were assigned. The Cowboys were considered the â€Å"misfit† team that had been thought of as the worst team in the league. That very night from receiving my gear I had an idea. I knew that my friend Brian Alvey enjoyed football as much as I did. He had also tried out for the high school football team and had been cut the year before. I proposed the idea of him playing football on the same team with me in the p... ...ud of me and we continued to pummel the Redskins. Our defensive line would not allow them to score at all. On one occurrence, the Redskins made it to our end zone and had fumbled the ball. I quickly jumped on the ball and prevented them from scoring. We had come back and won with a blowout game. With the game sounding whistle came roars of cheers from the sidelines, bleachers, and the team. We had won the Turkey Bowl Championship. The underdog team of misfits and late arrivals had come together and won. Winning the Turkey Bowl was one of the most memorable experiences in my life. My team had come together and through hard work and effort won the championship. To this very day, I proudly display the large Turkey Bowl Championship trophy in my room. Every time I look at the trophy it reminds me of how a group of misfits came together and won as a team.

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Near the end of the book the author shows the children finally accepting others as they are not for whom they want them to be. In â€Å"To Kill a Mockingbird†, there are many influential figures that help Scout and Gem mature over the course of the story as they overcome daily obstacles. During the story, Gem and Scout lose their innocence and develop a sense of maturity as time goes on. When Scout arrives at school, her teachers Mrs.. Caroline Is frustrated because she already knows how to read. Scout learns that ‘It Is not always proper to say bluntly what the truth is† (Lee, 20).As the chapter continued on, Scout realizes that Miss Caroline did to mean to offend her. Throughout the story characters are Judged based on their actions. Attic's lecture's Scout on how she needs to learn how people are and not who she wants them to be. The story takes place during a time of racial discrimination. Harper Lee wrote â€Å"There is nothing wrong with defending a black ma n† (30). Prejudice Is a common problem during the early quarter of the twentieth century. After Scours tantrum with Cecil Jacobs, Attic's says to Scout â€Å"Remember It's a sin to kill a mockingbird. â€Å"(Lee, 89).Since Scout couldn't comprehend what this meant, she had a talk with Mrs.. Maude. â€Å"Your father's right,† she said. â€Å"Mockingbirds don't do one thing but make music for us to enjoy †¦ But sing their hearts out for us. That's why It's a sin to kill a 50). Boo Rudely, the mysterious neighbor, Is an example of prejudice. On page 9 In â€Å"To Kill a Mockingbird† it says â€Å"Boo Rudely Is an example of prejudice, he Is not accepted to society because he Is different from others, and he is an erratic 9). In the beginning of the novel Scout, Gem, and Dill all see Boo as a bizarre man who never came out of his house.As the story continued on, Scout starts to realize who he really is as she matures. She finally became aware of all the wond erful things he has done. When Scout and Gem were playing outside, Scout discovers items in a tree. The whole time this was Boo Rudely showing compassion. On page 101 it shares â€Å"The court takes a white man's word over a black mans. The Judge convicted him guilty before he even read the case. â€Å"(Lee, 101). Attic's explains to Scout that no matter what color, size, or ethnicity a person is, everyone deserves to be treated with equality.Scout matures wrought the book by finally realizing that no one or creature should be harmed for causing peace or Joy. She finally understand how society really is. The theme of prejudice opens the eyes of many characters and changes their opinion on society. Some who provide love with no limits in this novel. Overtime Scout and Gem both learn how to love people. On page 22 Scout says, â€Å"Neighbors bring food with death and flowers with sickness and little things in between. Boo was our neighbor. He gave us two soap dolls, a broken watch and chain, a pair of good-luck pennies, and our lives.But neighbors give in return. We never put back into the tree what we took out of it: we had given him nothing, and it made me sad. â€Å"(Lee, 2) This quote is in the beginning of the book when they both Judged Boo Rudely. After he gave them all of these wonderful items they finally start to realize he is a compassionate man. He is beyond lonely and Just wants someone to accept him for who he is, not what others see him as. â€Å"One time Attic's said you never really knew a man until you stood in his shoes and walked around in them; Just standing' on the Rudely porch was enough.The summer that had begun so long ago had ended, and another summer had taken its place, and a fall, and Boo Rudely had come out. Said Scout. â€Å"(Lee, 40). Scout is talking about how as she grew older she finally starts to realize what it really means to show others what it means to care. It also shows that she is learning to accept a man who is kn own to be erotic. On the last few pages of the novel, Boo and Scout are walking home. It states â€Å"l started to see another life through Boob's eyes. This quote is beyond important for how the children mature throughout the story.

Fake Love in The Things They Carried by Tim O´Brian Essay

â€Å"Loneliness remains a strong presence enveloping the soldiers long after the war is over. Jimmy Cross, for example, feels bereft after the war because his hope for happiness in Martha is dashed by her rejection.† (Loneliness and Isolation.) While reading the book The Things They Carried by Tim OBrian, a reader can easily come across many items that represent certain things for the carrier. All these items are symbols for those men and women. For Example, Lieutenant Jimmy Cross â€Å"humps† --a word OBrian used at the beginning of the book to open this point-- his love for a woman named Martha and the danger it causes his men and him. This woman does not feel the same love for Jimmy Cross as he does for Martha, but he holds on to this hope†¦show more content†¦The other is of Martha in a volleyball uniform. In this picture Martha is using her left knee to hold all her weight as she plays. Jimmy Cross cant stop looking at Marthas knee. Its like he is in a tr ance staring at her knee. While on a date with Martha to see Bonnie and Clyde, Jimmy Cross laid his hand on Marthas knee; she then gave him a look of disgust causing him to remove his hand. Later, he admired the volleyball picture; he has regrets about not being more aggressive on the date. At times, Jimmys fantasies of Martha became completely overwhelming, and therefore started to come back to reality, which, in return, lead to negative feelings of regret, remorse, guilt, shame, and blame. Ted Lavender, which was one of the men under Jimmy Crosss command, was shot in the head. This incident is significant, because it happen due to Crosss day dreaming about Martha: â€Å"While on other occasions, he would often slip away into daydreams, just pretending, walking barefoot along, the shoreline, with Martha, carrying nothing† (OBrien, Carried 275). As a result of this, Jimmy Cross ends up burning all the Letters and Pictures from Martha. OBrian used Martha and Lieutenant Jimmy C ross to show the similar threads of the loneliness from war and the soldiers. Martha is used to represent the love interest left at home due to the war. Which in turn means Martha equals â€Å"love†. When Lieutenant Jimmy Cross spends his time fantasizing about Martha he loses focusShow MoreRelatedProject Mgmt296381 Words   |  1186 Pagesand print components, may not be available to customers outside the United States. This book is printed on acid-free paper. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 WVR/WVR 0 9 8 7 ISBN 978-0-07-340334-2 MHID 0-07-340334-2 Editorial director: Stewart Mattson Publisher: Tim Vertovec Executive editor: Richard T. Hercher, Jr. Developmental editor: Gail Korosa Associate marketing manager: Jaime Halterman Project manager: Harvey Yep Production supervisor: Carol Bielski Designer: Mary Kazak Vander Photo researcher: Jeremy CheshareckRead MoreStephen P. Robbins Timothy A. 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