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From C-minor to F-sharp to Augmented Chords

 

About a month ago I was in a one-day session where the speaker talked about team effectiveness and its impact on Project Teams. The facilitator used Patrick Lencioni’s Five Dysfunctions of a Team as a case study for our group.

For those who’ve read the book, you see how Patrick Lencioni delves into the challenges that often undermine team effectiveness. After giving it some more thought I came up with a title to describe it even further “The Symphony of Soloist playing different tunes”. For the music enthusiasts reading this, I’m sure you can easily relate to this title.

 

 

1. Absence of Trust
- Without trust among team members, there is hesitancy to be vulnerable and open. If I don’t trust my violinist to play the right note and the right interval, it impacts my own response to the conductor leading the orchestra.
- Building trust involves sharing weaknesses and being genuine, fostering a foundation for collaboration.

 

2. Fear of Conflict:
- Teams that avoid healthy conflict often experience artificial harmony.
- Constructive conflict is necessary for exploring diverse ideas and finding optimal solutions

 

3. Lack of Commitment:
- When team members don’t participate in decisions, there’s a lack of commitment to the chosen direction. As a Project Manager, how are you involving your teams in decision-making? Are you a one-man band within an orchestra?
- You get the right level of commitment when everyone is on board with a decision and understands its importance.

 

4. Avoidance of Accountability:
- Without clear expectations and accountability, team members may not take ownership of their responsibilities.
- A culture of accountability ensures that individuals are answerable for their contributions.

 

5. Inattention to Results:
- When personal goals override team objectives, collective success is compromised. There’s usually that instrumentalist who’s trying to make the loudest sound with their instrument..
- A focus on shared results, rather than individual achievements, is crucial for overall team performance. Instead of focusing on creating beautiful music together, individual musicians prioritize showcasing their skills, neglecting the overall success of the performance

 

Addressing these dysfunctions would involve creating an environment where musicians trust each other, engage in constructive conflict to refine their performance, commit wholeheartedly to the chosen piece, hold themselves and others accountable for mistakes, and collectively strive for a harmonious and successful musical outcome. Now this is what I call “Harmonious Project Management”.

 

Have a Harmonious Week!!

Akinwande Mark-Obaba