Does teamwork add value?

Have you ever noticed how a team with less talented individuals can often defeat a more superior talented team?

I am quite a sports fan and I often see this happening and like a lot of other people I love to see the less fancied or underdog team triumph. When it comes down to the crunch, it is simply that one team plays as a team while the other team is often bogged down with individual talents that just do not blend together when needed.

If this is the case with sporting events, then let me assure you it is just as relevant and arguably even more important in the work environment.

Teamwork

Teamwork is a vital necessity for maintenance and plant management when it comes to making sound business decisions.

And I hope that you can keep your projects straight and on track as the guys who built this railway line.

Unfortunately, however lack of planning and teamwork can leave the project unfinished as this image the on right shows.

Many people think that maintenance is just about keeping equipment running but it is a lot more than that. If we achieve improved success through effective teamwork, then we can be a huge game-changer as far as business decisions in our company are concerned. Improved better production and quality with minimized costs can make a significant difference to future strategic planning for businesses.

The old-fashioned view of maintenance by many executives was that the job of maintenance was just to keep the machines running. Today’s business executives however need to look at maintenance as a significant financial business driver which can add previously hidden profits to the company’s bottom line.

Geese and Teamwork

This is a better example of excellent teamwork. Nature often surprises us with the answers that are already there.

In Formation

When geese fly in formation, they create their own unique form of teamwork.

• As each bird flaps its wings, it creates uplift for the bird immediately following.
• By flying in their ‘V’, the whole flock adds up to 71% more flying range than if each bird flew on its own.
• Geese HONK from behind to encourage those up front to keep up their speed.

Wouldn’t we all love to see our team workflow smoothly and would you believe increase our productivity up to 71%? Well maybe we won’t catch the geese on this one but we certainly can improve from the position we are currently in.

Out of Formation

When a goose falls out of formation,

• It suddenly feels the drag and resistance of trying to go it alone and quickly gets back into formation to take advantage of the lifting power of the bird in front.
• When the lead goose gets tired, it rotates back in the ‘V’, and another goose flies point.
• When a goose gets sick, or is wounded and falls out of formation
• Two other geese fall out with their companion and follow it down to lend help and protection.
• They stay with the fallen goose until it is able to fly, or until it dies, and only then do they launch out on their own, or with another formation to catch up with the group.

Fly in Formation

We need to take a serious lesson from Geese and make sure that our team flies in formation, as teamwork is a vital necessity for maintenance and plant management. Not sure how close we can get to that 71% productivity increase but I am sure we can make a significant improvement to our productivity levels.

Oh and by the way, don’t forget to HONK!

For more information email us at info@strobe-al.co.za or visit www.strobe-al.co.za