The Startling Reality: Individuals versus Teams

I just completed a series of trainings in schools and in corporations that got me thinking – in reality, we are all extremely pampered and lazy individuals, and without an external object of competition, without a group of people pushing us on, we’ll never move forward. This is the reality of goal setting. The truth is, I don’t believe anyone can do it on their own, as a single person. I’ve had people questioning me: why can’t I be alone? If that’s my style? Well, this person is most likely extremely deluded or extremely young and inexperienced. I’ll give you a few major disappointments to realize that if you had been able to find a group of people to believe in what you do and to support you for what you stand for, that would be ideal, rather than fending off people who actually do care for you. Just because you don’t like the way they care for you doesn’t make you right, and doesn’t make them wrong. Parents are the best example – they do things because of the information they have. They aren’t experts. Some people say parents really aren’t qualified to be parents simply because there is no such thing. Neither is there a qualification to be a friend!

When given a choice, human beings tend to prefer to take the lazy way out. How long motivation will last really depends on the individual with a strong discipline or an outlook of life that has been conditioned by the reality that they have to fend for themselves, that is, until they discover the power of teams.

Teams have been shot down in the past for having something known as a herd mentality. But we all know that there is something called individuality. It’s fine to be an individual. But to be individuated, now that’s a different thing. I recall a number of participants in my trainings who feel that they can stand on their own and achieve their goals and dreams. While I’m in awe at their ability, I am also appalled by the way they treat groups. Not only are they not respectful of the power of the group, they literally push their group away. Or even worse, they drag their group down. It’s not so much about having to be in a team. Obviously, those of us who run single person business operations will experience the truth – that sometimes, we have to be alone. Yet, there’s nothing like a series of interactions with people to rejuvenate and recharge. While I can have simple conversations with people whom I don’t know, I can have extended conversations with people whom I have some kind of deep philosophical connection to. More importantly, different people serve different purposes for us. Even in Napoleon Hill’s book Think and Grow Rich, one of the major success principles is the existence of a mastermind group. With a mastermind group, you can literally create new and interesting ideas and practice old effective ones for whatever purpose your group has been set up for.

The power teams have are as such: leveraging on strengths, diverse opinions, creative tension, division of labor, emotional support, individual watchdog… there are so many of them that can be named I guess it will take me some time to do it all. But the truth is that there is strength in a team. I’ve put together some ideas that can help teams in business (on the way) and in schools (click here) to develop their fullest potential – hope this helps you out in leveraging on teams. Those interested in Corporate Team Building, contact Desmond at http://corporate.akltg.com.