[Partnerwerks Collaboratory] TeamWisdom First, Virtual Tools Second

Welcome to Partnerwerks Collaboratory!
June 12, 2000

For everyone who desires to accomplish more with others,
Collaboratory promotes TeamWisdom(TM) -- the individual mental
skills and behaviors that create highly responsible and
productive relationships at work.

In this issue:

1. 10-Second Collaboratory
2. Welcome Notes
3. Check It Out at http://www.partnerwerks.com
4. TeamWisdom First, Virtual Tools Second
5. 5-Minute TeamWisdom(TM) Stretch
6. Search Collaboratory Archives

______________________________________________________________________
1. 10-Second Collaboratory

Don't start that teleconference, set-up the web-based
collaboration or broadcast that email until you have thought
through the TeamWisdom implications.

______________________________________________________________________
2. Welcome Notes

Welcome to a large group of new subscribers this week from around
the world. Welcome also to continuing readers.

Please forward Collaboratory. Many teams, departments and
organizations encourage every member to read Collaboratory and
then talk about TeamWisdom in their meetings. That's learning!

______________________________________________________________________
3. Check It Out at http://www.partnerwerks.com

The Team Advisor welcomes your comments and questions about
collaborative leadership at:

http://www.partnerwerks.com/What_s_Here_/Jump_In/Offices/Partnerwerks_Associates/_Christopher_Avery/team_advisor.html

______________________________________________________________________
4. TEAMWISDOM FIRST, VIRTUAL TOOLS SECOND

A few days ago Yaneev Benno of IBM posted the following request
to the Team Advisor on www.partnerwerks.com:

"I was wondering if you could write about how to leverage some of
the concepts that you've been talking about recently in a virtual
team environment (i.e. where team members are not in the same
area, but rather spread out around the world)?"

Thanks Yaneev, good question. At Partnerwerks, we too rely on
communication technologies for collaborating with associates. We
also support clients' virtual teams. There are some vitally
important virtual TeamWisdom lessons that we have learned. We
will gladly share the biggest one today and more in coming weeks.

In our experience, people use communication technologies much too
cavalierly. Perhaps these people believe that the technological
connectivity "makes" the team. This could not be farther from the
truth. When dealing with virtual (separated by geography and time
zone) teams, the most important TeamWisdom tip is to ensure that
you think through the challenges of replacing face-to-face
interaction with communication technologies. Without considerable
TeamWisdom, this is difficult to do.

You've heard the expression "one arm tied behind your back"? Well
this is how we think of virtual teamwork. To be adept at virtual
teamwork, you should first demonstrate such amazing TeamWisdom
that you could build a team with "one arm tied behind your back."
Why? Because attempting to build a virtual team is like
communicating when there are extreme limitations on all members'
senses -- some of you are missing sight, some are missing speech,
some are missing hearing, all are missing smell, taste and touch!
When high performance teamwork does occur in virtual
environments, it happens in spite of, not because of, the
communication technologies for spanning time and space. So lesson
#1 is this: Don't look to the tools to provide the TeamWisdom.

So, to leverage TeamWisdom on virtual teams, first demonstrate
TeamWisdom repeatedly in collocated groups. Then, think about
what challenges are created by separation that are not solved
through technology. Then experiment, experiment, experiment and
observe the results.

Get started with this week's 5-Minute TeamWisdom(TM) Stretch.

______________________________________________________________________
5. 5-Minute TeamWisdom(TM) Stretch

List five recent personal experiences when collaborative
technologies where used irresponsibly and/or unproductively by
yourself or others. For each, consider how you would correct.
Next time, how will you respond in real time, even if you are not
in charge?

Faithfully,
Christopher and Erin

P.S.  Please write Christopher at cavery@partnerwerks.com to
share your insights. Or post your question on The Team Advisor,
at:

http://www.partnerwerks.com/What_s_Here_/Jump_In/Offices/Partnerwerks_Associates/_Christopher_Avery/team_advisor.html

______________________________________________________________________
6. Search the Collaboratory archives for more TeamWisdom tips.
Enter key words at:

http://zip.mail-list.com/archives/collaboratory

______________________________________________________________________
Copyright 1998-2000, all rights reserved. Permission is granted
to republish Partnerwerks Collaboratory. Please include complete
contact information about the author, Christopher M. Avery,
Ph.D., President, Partnerwerks Inc. (cavery@partnerwerks.com);
and send us a courtesy copy of the publication in which it
appears.

To schedule a presentation or consultation with Dr. Avery,
contact info@partnerwerks.com.  See presentation topics at:

http://www.partnerwerks.com/What_s_Here_/Jump_In/Reception/Courses___Custom_Services/Talks_by_Christopher_Avery/talks_by_christopher_avery.html