WHAT MAKES A GREAT TEAM?

In chapter five (5) of the technology director's guide to leadership (Hall, 2008), a picture is painted of what it takes to make a great team. I like the African Proverb given (p. 107): "If you want to go fast, then go alone; If you want to go far, then go together." Teamwork is not about just accomplishing tasks, it is about accomplishing tasks together. I heard a comment or read something on twitter that described a rhino,it's strength and power, and how it could do a lot, but that does not make the rhino a leader (author unknown). Hearing that caused me to reflect back to different leaders that I have known. It posed the question, "Am I like a rhino?" Am I scary? Intimidating? Damaging? Demanding? Loud? Proud? I do not want to have the leadership skills of a rhino. I want to be a leader who is able to develop a great team. I want to be able to understand my role as a leader, in educational technology, ministry, with my family, friends, and in every arena of my life. I want to be involved with great teams, working together. Hall shares how you can know when you are involved in a great team, "When each team member feels individually accountable for the success of every other team member, that's when you truly have a great team (Hall, 2008 p. 109)." He also shares that every team is in a stage. An example is given of the Tuckman's model of "Forming-Storming-Norming-Performing (Hall, 2008 p. 110)." Hall shared that it is important for every leader to help the team move through the early stages quickly with the goal in mind of getting them to the performing stage. Another statement that stuck out to me was, "Your real goal is to have a team, not just a group of people working together (Hall, 2008 p. 116)." Educational technology leaders have before them a great task and responsibility of developing great teams. The greatest example of a leader that I know is Christ Jesus, who served everyone He was leading (Phil. 2:5-8).

Savior

"If our greatest need had been information, God would have sent an educator. If our greatest need had been technology, God would have sent us a scientist. If our greatest need had been money, God would have sent us an economist. But since our greatest need was forgiveness, God sent us a Savior."
by Max Lucado