Coaching: Preaching vs Practicing - Teamwork

Teamwork has a dramatic affect on organizational performance. An effective team can help an organization achieve incredible results. A team that is not working can cause unnecessary disruption, failed delivery and strategic failure. Knowing the importance of teamwork itself is insufficient. Did we practice teamwork?

Nowadays it is almost impossible to avoid being a member of team. If you’re not on an official team at work, chances are you function within one in one way or another. So it's important for your personal and career development to know your team working strengths and weaknesses.

I've come out with a set of assessment that helps you uncover common team working problems that you might be experiencing. Take some time off to try out the assessment. Once you've completed the assessment, wait till next issue (December 8th 2007) where I will show you team tools that will help you to improve and develop these important skills.

There are 15 questions altogether. For questions 1 to 9, please answer as follows:

Marks Representation
1 Not at all
2 Rarely
3 Sometimes
4 A Lot
5 Very Much

Questions
1.My team is knowledgeable about the stages of development teams can be expected to go through.
2.Team members are provided with a great deal of feedback regarding their performance.
3.Team members are encouraged to work for the common good of the organization.
4.People are encouraged to be good team members, and build good relationships.
5.Team members are provided with development opportunities.
6.Team members are encouraged to commit to the team vision, and leaders help them understand how their role fits into the big picture.
7.Team members are often given a chance to work on interesting tasks and stretch their knowledge and capabilities.
8.The team understands what it needs to accomplish and has the resources needed to be successful.
9.Team members balance their individual needs for autonomy with the benefits of mutual interdependence.

For questions 10 to 15, please answer as follows:

Marks Representation
5 Not at all
4 Rarely
3 Sometimes
2 A Lot
1 Very Much

Questions
10.There are many complaints, and morale is low on my team.
11.Team members don’t understand the decisions that are made, or don’t agree with them.
12.Meetings are inefficient and there is a lot of role overlap.
13.Conflict and hostility between members is a pervasive issue that doesn’t seem to get better.
14.People feel that good work is not rewarded and they are not sure what is expected of them.
15.Working relationships across units or functions is poor, and there is a lack of coordination.

Happy trying!

Pissed Off with one of my former company!

Its quite a while already since I resigned from one of my former company and until now, I still couldn't get myself to forget the darkest time there...it really sucks! Damn it!!!

I was cheated of more than RM7K in commission due to me by this company. Before I resigned, I have helped the company secured a tender worth more than RM1 million. I got the customer's original PO, processed and accepted by the parent company in Europe. While tendering my resignation letter, I asked my immediate superior if I am still eligible for the commission and he said 'YES' because I deserve it. Based on gentlemen manner, I didn't asked for a black and white (its my mistake). However, the company's general practise of paying commission (not stated in the policy) is that, I can only tender my claim after the parent company in Europe had sent the item to us and we have invoiced the customer. That usually takes 3 to 4 months time.

When I finally knew of that the items already sent to customer, invoice already out and that customer had already paid, I tender my commission claim. I thought the money would come in handy as my mother is battling in the hospital with cancer (I've exhausted all my EPF fund account 3 then, and had to use credit card to pay for the bill).

My mother's 70th birthday in the hospital... My sisters, father and myself. I missed her so much now...*sobbing*

TO MY BIGGEST SURPRISED, THE COMPANY REJECTED MY CLAIM SAYING THE COMPANY POLICY STATED THAT ANY STAFFS RESIGNED BEFORE THE PAYMENT OF COMMISSION, ARE NO LONGER ENTITLED TO CLAIM!

I called my ex-immediate superior and to my horror, he denied ever saying "I can claim as I deserved it"!!! He suggested me to talk to the Finance Manager, which I did. Same old shit...cannot claim! I wrote a letter to the MD and he too rejected my claim (I still keep the email with me). I went back to check all my appointment letters, yearly increment letters, memos and employee handbook... none was written that a resignee cannot claim commission. I wrote back to the MD and ask to show proof which clause in the policy stated that and he decided to ignore me! I got so pissed off. Instead, my current employer and the generous colleagues had helped me raised more than RM10K to aid my mother's escallating bill. God blessed, I humbly but tearfully thank each and everyone of them for their kind heart...

Not long later my mother succumbed to her cancer and left us forever. I sent smses to the company to tell them my mother had passed away. While a handful of them replied with deepest condolence, no representative came to pay their last respect!!! Instead, my new employer sent representatives with condolences, flowers and even donated quite substantially.
With the passing of my ever loving mother, I decided to donate (with consent from my family) all extra money collected to the mother of one of my friend who is suffering from kidney failure.
God willing, my ex-company and those greedy satan, blood sucker, money demon... will be burned in hell forever!

Angkasawan vs Waste Bin

Malaysia had recently rocketed an Angkasawan to ISS and returned successfully after about a week. In Seri Petaling, Android had just rocketed a Waste Bin to the Internet... sound similar huh? So I shared similar vision with that of the Malaysian Government...briliant guy I am hehehe

Rise of the Pale Boy

I am supposed to take leave but decided to cancel it because I've completed all my duties to the government!

He he... actually what I mean is I've already gotten my new NRIC (where my new picture looked so pale!) and did my car Insurance/Road Tax. So, why waste time sleeping at home...not that I have girls hand to hold...

Eh, tell you guys, the next time you want to replace your NRIC, make sure you put on some strong make-up... at least more brown colour. Otherwise look so pale like going to die soon... Bah~

My 1st Post

Today is the day my Waste Bin is born. And today is the day I will start throwing in rubbish into my waste bin. But hey, while I consider them as rubbish, they could be treasure for you guys. So start searching into my Waste Bin guyz...