Jul 11, 2018
In this episode, Jim and Jan
talk about the Urban Team Challenge: What it is, how it came about,
how it’s different from other team builders, and the special type
of people behind it. The goal is to sharpen your team’s ability to
communicate, delegate appropriately, overcome adversity, and
leverage strengths.
Key Takeaways
[2:34] In our business and
personal lives, most of us are on multiple teams, and several
outlets where we are working both together and independently
towards a common goal. The Urban Team Challenge targets skills that
may be applied in any situation, whether it’s a manager leading
employees, or CEO in charge of dozens of managers.
[3:15] Jan recalls a podcast
episode he listened to recently where a Jayne Poynter recalls her
challenges from Living in Biosphere 2. First was running out of
oxygen, but a close second was the interpersonal dynamics
surrounding her. This demonstrates how important it is for those to
work together efficiently in team dynamic.
[6:11] At a recent Urban Team
Challenge in Atlanta, they saw first hand how it can shift team
members from an individual mindset, to one team working together
for a common goal.
[11:25] Both Jim and Jan recap
their takeaways from the recent Urban Challenge. They feel the most
important were the experience of effective communication in a time
of chaos, reducing stress with good planning and adapting, cohesion
between the front facing and behind the scenes parts within a team,
and fully understanding standard operating procedures and
expectations up front.
[15:14] When team members get
fatigued and taxed, it is important for them to speak up so another
in the group can take the lead. It’s also important for the group
to examine the implicit assumptions they make. For example, if
there are two men in their 50’s standing outside a college
bookstore, instead of going for the assumption that they should
stand away from each other and act engaged in their cell phone, it
actually might be better for their appearance of fitting in and
acting “normal”, to stand and have a conversation
together.
[17:17] For a strong team
dynamic and successful collaboration, trust is key.
Instagram: @WeStudyLeaders
Facebook: @westudyleaders
Twitter: @westudyleaders
Website: The
Urban Team Challenge
YouTube: Urban Team Challenge
Email: info@theleadershippodcast.com
Quotable Quotes
- “In a
chaotic situation, you need to depend on effective
communication.”
- “It’s
hard to create alignment, and most of us are conflict avoiders, and
this is an exercise to bring that all out in a hurry.”
- “We
create an understanding of what it is like to work as a
team.”
- No
one ever says, “We over communicated.”
- “Every team benefits from ground rules that can
be adjusted along the mission.”
- “In
order to have good communication, you need trust and open
dialogue.”