you and the team
How to (not) make your team fail at jelling.
~ # whoami
Fulvio Meden
Developer @ eMaze Networks
Student @ UniTS (information engineering)
JELL?
Syllabification: (jell)
A jelled team is a group of people so strongly knit together that the whole is greater than the sum of the parts
-- Peopleware (T. De Marco, T. Lister, 1987)
this is a team
and this is a team that jells
ok,
good for them,
but why should i care?
A JELLED TEAM has a common goal, and the team members value it
a jelled team does more and better
A JELLED TEAM does not fear difficulties, it looks forward to challenges
for A JELLED TEAM, only perfect is close enough
A JELLED TEAM is unstoppable
A JELLED TEAM has a lot of fun!
so, don't you want to join a team that jells?
here comes the bad news:you can't
Or rather: chances to join one and integrate in it without compromising the complex alchemy that makes one are very, very slight.
"whatever, i'll just make one!"
"..."
"err... how do i build a team that jells?"
bad news strikes again: you can't.
when in a team the alchemy occurs, it just jells.
Somehow.
there's no "how to"...
...but there's "how to not"
"it's just work"
That's not an attitude that helps.
Yes, you're there to get paid, but can't you really find a higher goal beyond it?
Be proud of your product, make good experience, find good solutions, make the kittens smile (??) ...
"they're just colleagues"
But they're also the people with whom you'll spend most of every day.
Don't throw away the chance to know them a bit better, it will make the workplace more comfortable.
For everyone.
"BEEN THERE, DONE THAT. BUT NOT MY PROBLEM"
If it's a team problem, it's your problem too.
When you notice a problem or an opportunity, point it out.
There's no gain in keeping it for yourself.
"it's wrong. it's wrong. it's still wrong."
And what are you doing to help fix it?
Pointing out problems doesn't mean just complaining.
If you don't have a clue about a possible solution, you might still be able to help find the originating cause.
"i'll just try to mimic you"
A team needs new ideas and viewpoints, not a bad copy of someone that's already there.
Bring your own unique personality and vision!
"asking is not polite"
And ignorance is not helping.
Just ask, it'll help both you to clear your doubts and who explains to confirm his thoughts about it.
"i'm right. because yes."
That's the same reason why you're a jerk.
Even if you know your idea is better, give a chance and listen.
You'll never know when a new prompt may arise.
"i'll just play minion"
Somewhere else, please.
Put yourself on the line.
Take your risks and responsibilities.
Teammates need mutual trust,
protocol droids can hardly be trusted for photocopies.
"BUT, even avoiding all of this, it's still only a chance!"
Sure.
but even if your team doesn't jell in the end, it will still be a better team
life is too short to don't enjoy what we're doing
so a better team definetly matters!
thanks
-- Foo, proud member of "The Ugly People" team
you_and_the_team
By Tsukihara Caligin
