Imagine the scenario where you are the Coach (forget the time and nationality), and the best football players are on your team: Pelé, Maradona, Platine, Becker, Neymar, Messi, Ronaldo, Cristiano Ronaldo, Zidane, among other players.
The perfect team to win the World Cup and become the best team of all time. However, even though you have on your team the best players, there is no cooperation between them ... There are no ball pass when the team has a player in a better position to score. Everyone wants to score the goal, everyone wants to be the main star of the team and win the award for best player in the world.
What do you do as the Coach (project manager) this team for all players to work cooperatively "pass the ball" and play their role in the best way and win the World Cup (deliver the project)? Saving Changes...
Denise CantyAgile Coach, Life Coach, Author, Senior Project-Program Manager| Cenden CompanyWashington, Dc, United States
In the real world, the situation that you describe sounds like a group of toddlers.
Mature adults in the work place should know how to "play nicely" with others.
I do understand that often, project managers cannot pick their team members but there is no time on a project to "train people" how to get along.
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1 reply by Gisele Feitoza da Rocha
Aug 03, 2016 8:51 PM
Gisele Feitoza da Rocha
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I understand your point of view. Unfortunatly, sometimes we work with adults who behave like toddlers and we have no choice. Thanks for your contribuition.
Saving Changes...
Sergio Luis ConteHelping to create solutions for everyone| Worldwide based OrganizationsBuenos Aires, Argentina
As an Argentine citizen and after because I was born in Argentina I will say: that you forgot one: Alfredo Destefano (hehehehehe). Years ago I have wrote an article for the PMI about the Chicago Bulls situation in the time of Scotty Pipen, Michael Jordan, Denis Rodman. The key in this type of teams (and what is the same in football teams) is to understand this: they could not be a group of friends but they must be a team. In Argentina we say: they are brothes because the Argentine`s national shirt (something like to say they are brothers because the objetive to achieve). The worst thing a coach can do is trying to create a group of friends in that situation. I was tennis coach and I understand what you are talking about.
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2 replies by Anupam and Gisele Feitoza da Rocha
Aug 03, 2016 4:18 PM
Gisele Feitoza da Rocha
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I'm sorry about that. Next time I'll remember Alfredo Distefano on my team (jajaja).
I'll be grateful if you could share your article. Thank you for your contribution.
As an Argentine citizen and after because I was born in Argentina I will say: that you forgot one: Alfredo Destefano (hehehehehe). Years ago I have wrote an article for the PMI about the Chicago Bulls situation in the time of Scotty Pipen, Michael Jordan, Denis Rodman. The key in this type of teams (and what is the same in football teams) is to understand this: they could not be a group of friends but they must be a team. In Argentina we say: they are brothes because the Argentine`s national shirt (something like to say they are brothers because the objetive to achieve). The worst thing a coach can do is trying to create a group of friends in that situation. I was tennis coach and I understand what you are talking about.
I'm sorry about that. Next time I'll remember Alfredo Distefano on my team (jajaja).
I'll be grateful if you could share your article. Thank you for your contribution. Saving Changes...
Sergio Luis ConteHelping to create solutions for everyone| Worldwide based OrganizationsBuenos Aires, Argentina
Sure Gisele. I will search inside PMI site and I will share the link. The article is from year 2000 but I remembered I have shared the link two years ago inside a PMI site.
Sure Gisele. I will search inside PMI site and I will share the link. The article is from year 2000 but I remembered I have shared the link two years ago inside a PMI site.
In the real world, the situation that you describe sounds like a group of toddlers.
Mature adults in the work place should know how to "play nicely" with others.
I do understand that often, project managers cannot pick their team members but there is no time on a project to "train people" how to get along.
I understand your point of view. Unfortunatly, sometimes we work with adults who behave like toddlers and we have no choice. Thanks for your contribuition.
...
1 reply by Denise Canty
Aug 03, 2016 10:12 PM
Denise Canty
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I've never managed an entire team of problematic members. In all of my years, on mostly every project, it has been "just one".
Saving Changes...
Dominic LawProduct Manager| PCCW GlobalHappy Valley, Hong Kong
Each player has his strength and weakness. For instance I think you haven't named a goalkeeper on your list. So a team of these superstars but without a recognized goalkeeper is quite a risk! Anyhow PM can start with team player selection and find the best player for each role. "Work cooperatively" is an important skill, so you will see some superstars left out in a team and people would wonder "why". And we often see a team of "nobodies" perform very well too! Saving Changes...
In my experience, every star has strengths and weaknesses. The key is to match one player's strength with another's weakness and show them as a complement. One of my best teams was built on having all-stars. My advantage was that each person had at least 1 strength that separated them from the others. Then, I could play up the strengths (and their ego). I promoted the skill I needed them to perform for the team, and minimized the value of the other skills if I had others on the team who were stronger. In some ways, this created a healthy amount of competition in the group, and also provided individual goals for personal development.
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1 reply by Denise Canty
Aug 03, 2016 10:14 PM
Denise Canty
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I like your approach. For me, I have typically had teams of consultants who are self motivated, team players and professional. Team members aren't superstars if they put their own goals before the needs of the project.
Saving Changes...
Denise CantyAgile Coach, Life Coach, Author, Senior Project-Program Manager| Cenden CompanyWashington, Dc, United States
Aug 03, 2016 8:51 PM
Replying to Gisele Feitoza da Rocha
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I understand your point of view. Unfortunatly, sometimes we work with adults who behave like toddlers and we have no choice. Thanks for your contribuition.
I've never managed an entire team of problematic members. In all of my years, on mostly every project, it has been "just one". Saving Changes...
Denise CantyAgile Coach, Life Coach, Author, Senior Project-Program Manager| Cenden CompanyWashington, Dc, United States
Aug 03, 2016 9:53 PM
Replying to Romiya Barry
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Hi Gisele,
This is a good question.
In my experience, every star has strengths and weaknesses. The key is to match one player's strength with another's weakness and show them as a complement. One of my best teams was built on having all-stars. My advantage was that each person had at least 1 strength that separated them from the others. Then, I could play up the strengths (and their ego). I promoted the skill I needed them to perform for the team, and minimized the value of the other skills if I had others on the team who were stronger. In some ways, this created a healthy amount of competition in the group, and also provided individual goals for personal development.
I like your approach. For me, I have typically had teams of consultants who are self motivated, team players and professional. Team members aren't superstars if they put their own goals before the needs of the project. Saving Changes...
