Work Integrated Learning 2006

What makes a winning team?

Winning team is just another word that one may hear. However, it has a profound meaning if one contemplates on this word.

Before I define a winning team, I'll break my post up into 2 sections. 1st, the meaning of team. 2nd, the meaning of winning and lastly, i'll write about my perception of a winning team and what makes it.

A team comprises any group of people linked in a common purpose. A group does not constitutes a team. The 'X' factor that transforms a group into a team is known as 'common purpose'. One may ask, what is the common purpose in WIL? Well, I'll get back to that soon.

What is win? It is to achieve success in an event or a venture by putting in effort. One may ask, isn't it logical to achieve success if we put in effort in an event? My answer is, not so. Though one may put in effort in the things he do, he still needs to do things that are IN LINE WITH THE OBJECTIVE. I have had experiences in putting in effort but for the wrong thing, which makes my effort futile. Therefore, in order for one to win, he needs to be clear about the objective.

Having defined the 2 words, a winning team is defined as a group of people linked in a common purpose and achieving success because they do things in line with the objective. Having said that, a winning team has many atributes but one attribute that outweighs the rest would be COMMUNICATION. Many times, companies and even big organisation make mistakes because of miscommunication.

In summary, A winning team is made a winner because of COMMUNICATION

How I feel the WIL Team is faring?
The WIL team in my point of view is doing fine overall. However if I were to go in detail, I'ld say I'm one of the worst among the team. I say this because of my fear of being 'shot at'when I suggest or ask things which as a result makes me quiet.

Here's how the incident that triggered my "introvert side" started...

If anyone were to remember that during one of the sessions when we discussed about the curriculum for the session the next day, I mentioned

"Will it be better to come up with a back up plan? I scared later if something goes wrong, at least we got something to fall upon"

Thinking back, I shouldn't have used the word scared, because I was not scared at all, I'm just concerned. I should have used the word concern instead. It conveys a different meaning. However, read on to see the outcome of the conversation...

Soon after the meeting, someone told me

"You scared this scared that no need to do things."

I'll not forget the impact of that statement, at least not anytime soon.

Imagine how I feel especially being shot at by a fellow member. Moreover, it's just the beginning and I was shot at. Soon, I begin to do things my own way and did not consult with others because of this stigma. Ever since that incident, I adapted a nonchalant attitude because of the fear of being 'shot at'

Some may think that I use this as an excuse but this was what really happened. So maybe I went overboard by being upset with the team and adopted this nonchalant attitude? Anyway, I just hope that this event will pass soon because time heals wound and I definitely need some time off to forget about this incident.

posted by Sam87 @ 3:24 PM