Building Team Work at Petland

As I sometimes do, for fun... I sit here today and look threw job adds, see whats out there you know... not looking for me... just reading threw.
There is some key phrases that seem to be mentioned in several, if not all the ads. When looking threw ads for a job, you need to be able to decipher the "JOB AD CODE".

1. "COMPETITIVE SALARY"
By paying less than our competitors, we keep the national average of this position down.

2. "JOIN OUR FAST-PACED TEAM"
Come prepared, we dont have the time to train your ass.

3. "CASUAL WORK ATMOSPHERE"
We are not paying you enough to be able to go out an buy business suits... dress casual.

4, "MUST BE DEADLINE ORIENTED"
Due to #2 on the first day of work, you'll find yourself months behind.

5. "SOME OVERTIME REQUIRED"
Some time each night and some time each weekend. Pay is optional and is left up to Management. Most of the time its free overtime.

6. "DUTIES WILL VARY"
Boss likes coffee breaks, so various people in charge throughout the day with different goals.

7. "MUST HAVE AN EYE FOR DETAIL"
Its all up to you, we are not paying to implement a quality control system.

8. "CAREER-MINDED"
Applicants must be child and spouseless (and remain that way).

9. "APPLY IN PERSON"
If you're old, fat or ugly you'll be told the position has been filled.

10. "NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE"
We've filled the job... by union laws, this ad must be posted.

11. "SEEKING CANDIDATES WITH A WIDE VARIETY OF EXPERIENCE"
You will need to replace 5 people who left with various skills due to over load of work.

12. "PROBLEM-SOLVING SKILLS A MUST"
Company full of chaos, better become prepared.

13. "REQUIRES TEAM LEADERSHIP SKILLS"
Responsibilities of a manager, respect and pay of newbie.

14. "GOOD COMMUNICATION SKILLS"
Do what we mean, not what we tell you!

But them theres a word that in EVERY ad now. TEAM, TEAM WORK, TEAM MEMBER.... and the like. This got me to thinking about the word TEAM and its derivatives. In most cases Team work seems to be a management cover up word for slavery. If you stand up for your rights.... you are termed as NOT A TEAM PLAYER. But just doing what your asked, your often tagged with the same title. True teamwork is the rarest, most exhilarating, and most productive human activity possible. Every business wants to harness this incredible energy, but achieving such a level of motivation and esprit is not always easy. I have recently been transferred to a new post at work... I was transfered to bring the team around..... there is the word 'team' again. So here today I ponder what it really means to be a team, and how to achieve this goal.

A team is not just a group of individuals who work at the same location or have the same logo on their shirts. A real team is made up of people who may be unequal in experience, talent, or education, but who are equal in their commitment to working together to achieve the goals and good of the organization, each other and their guests. If I am going to be successful in building this team, I can no longer look at our organization as departments, divisions, or branch offices. I must look at the bigger picture and resolve to work together in ways we may never have done before. I truely belive that "average peolple" can work at "genus" level when working as a team. Some brainstorm. Some work alone and then report back to the group. I think that a team "becomes a genius when everyone works together." I also feel that when a team is working at optimal performance, it is hard to know who the leader is. In other words, the team runs the team.

Such teamwork doesn't happen by accident. It requires commitment and effort, a willingness to accept the uniqueness of others, and an appreciation of diversity. I guess we build teams in our companies the same way we build relationships with our friends and coworkers. High-functioning teams establish us and our companies as reliable, internally and externally. We then project this image to our guests, vendors, competitors, and communities.

Building a real team gets real results, but it can't be done with slogans and directives. So how will I build this team to be a REAL team. I think I shall start by respecting each person's individual contribution, showing appreciation, exciting them about their possibilities for achievement, and sharing with them that their group effort has the potential for real genius. Wish me luck!

IS IT EMERALDS OR IS IT WEEDS?

As we, the general population of this planet, plunge deeper into the depth of what seems the forever deepening realm of growth, whether it be personal, emotional, mental, career-related or other...... I want to touch on a topic that I briefly touched on before.

Change is not always growth just as movement is not always progress.

Just because there is changes afoot in life, this does not necessarily mean there will be any progression at all, in fact it does not even guarantee there will not be a recession. Quite often we tend to think that just because we make changes in our life, in our relationships, in our careers, in our enterprises and projects, that things will get better. We have all at one point or another, have experienced the old expression " The Grass is always greener on the other side of the fence".

I can say without a doubt, exactly to what this old adage pertains. Have you ever seen a rambling hillside that looks as though it's a perfectly manicured lawn through and through, with it's lush green coloring? It makes you want to just run up to the top barefoot, feeling the softness of each blade of grass caress your feet. But as you get closer, you discover that in actuality, it's not a well manicured lawn at all, but small shrubbery and weeds that all blend in amongst themselves, with bare patches and ruts in between. It doesn't look so wonderful now, close up.
It was all an illusion from a distance. Well, life is much like that rolling, lush hill. When you see what others have, you can start to feel envious, thinking they have the perfect life,
they've been far more blessed than you could ever hope or imagine to be. You might even begin to assume that others came by it so easily, while you had to work your fingers to the bone to have so much less. However, looks can be deceiving, especially when you get up close and personal.

Why is it that we "think" we want something that someone else has, yet we often fail to look in our own yards to see the many splendid blessings that we ourselves possess? Why is that we want to drive that expensive SUV, have the big screen tv's and fly off to exotic destinations, just as all the fortunate ones do? We seem to think that we need to have the high priced brand name clothes and expensive finery in order to feel good about ourselves, good about our lives.

What if we were to take a closer inspection at what we "think" is better, before we dove right in head first? We might find that the other team is better at putting a show of perfection. The "greener side" may just be more talented at telling and showing you and I what we want to see and hear. First, let's rediscover what we already have
before we decide to want more, or what someone else ha or promises to offer. That way the grass can be greener on OUR side of the fence and you can have the peace of mind to enjoy it!

It is extremely important that we tough on growth. We all grow and change on a daily, heck even on a hourly basis. Some people don't handle change very well, I am one of those people. Growth means change and change involves risk, stepping from the known to the unknown and that is enough to scare anyone. A lot of my friends, and co-workers are extremely scared right now, but I want to assure that with in all this chaos in the workplace brings uneasiness......... but it also allows the opportunity for creativity and growth.

Let's go back to that rambling hillside that looks as though it's a perfectly manicured lawn through and through, with it's lush green colorin. I've learned that everyone wants to live on top of the this hill, but all the happiness, growth and personal contentedness occurs while you're climbing it.

I want to leave you on one last thought.

When you see the value of this happiness,growth and personal contentedness, the circumstances and chaos around you become stepping stones.