Teamwork

Previously
In the previous issue, I wrote about The Frozen Juice Concentrate Model of Creativity. I would like to believe that I explored all the possibilities. But my daughter, Nicole, offered several more, including the following:

I like the frozen juice frozen. I always have this little gremlin in my head whispering that I should just get a spoon and eat the o.j., frozen, and forget that I would rather have it as juice later.... but somehow I ignore him. Sad. Maybe someday I'll eat condensed frozen o.j. mmmm.... frozen o.j.

I expect to hear your interpretations of how this relates to the Model.

Sports
I watch televised sports during the Olympics and during the culmination of certain events. For example, I watched two of the final games of the NCAA Championships (aka The Final Four) this past week.  Before this, the last time I watched basketball on TV was in 1987.

What's the connection?  I live in Syracuse, NY.  For those of you who are similarly team-sports-impaired, but who are additionally hampered by your lack of any connection to Syracuse, I'll just tell you that the Syracuse University men's basketball team played in both finals -- in 1987 and again year.  And this year they won the thing!

The games I watched last week were well-played and they came down to the wire. Everyone was very excited.  In Syracuse, you could hear a roar coming from the campus.

Team Players
Sports metaphors abound.  Effort, practice, failure, wins, teamwork, perseverance, goals, and good sportsmanship, are just a few of the sports metaphors that translate into our non-sporting life... often in relation to work.

I want to say a bit about the teamwork that I saw last week on the Syracuse team.  I'm sure that teamwork was important for the other teams, but, to be honest, I wasn't watching them with the same attention as I was watching Syracuse.

The Syracuse team had a group of players who really seemed to like to play together.  One player among them has demonstrated amazing ball-handling skill and has been honored with national awards.  He displayed grace, style, and joy on the court.  And he didn't hog the ball.

Looking back, I realize I was watching the "dance" of the team more than I was watching for this one player. The dance was fluid and balanced.  

When it was over, I was pleased for the Syracuse team, and for their coach.  They will always remember their win.  And I will always remember the spirit of play and joy that they brought to these games.

Your Turn
The academic world is so often the antithesis of team playing.  But does it have to be?

• Write down three ways you could collaborate with others in your department or field.
  
  
• If you really want to stretch yourself, write down three more ways you could collaborate that do not involve multiple authors on a paper.
  
  
• Grab a sheet of paper.  Make two columns and write the numbers one through ten down each side.  
  
  
• Now, as fast as you can, finish the statement, "I can't collaborate..." ten times down the left side of the page.
  
  
• Then, again as fast as you can, finish the statement, "Collaboration will..." ten times down the right side of the page.
  
  
• Notice the "chatter" in your head that surrounds this issue.

I would be pleased to talk with you about how you can build collaboration... and joy into your work.

In teamwork -

     Steve

I help university and college professors and doctoral candidates get more done, in less time, with less stress, and with more joy.

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The Reiter Coaching Letter is published by Steve Reiter on the first and third Tuesday of each month.  The purpose is to challenge you and support you in creating success and fulfillment throughout your life.

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Unless otherwise indicated, all content is written and edited by Steve Reiter, MS, PCC.  You are welcome to republish any or all parts of this newsletter; I ask only that you honor the copyright by including full acknowledgment, which includes the words "Copyright 2002, Reiter Coaching. All rights reserved." and a listing of my contact information (name, e-mail, web site).  Additionally, I would appreciate receiving a copy of the publication in which the article appears.

The Reiter Coaching Letter
Copyright (c) 2003, Reiter Coaching. All rights reserved.
U.S. Library of Congress ISSN: 1539-2309