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!