Team - wow what a team!

Our start up process was extremely easy and we joined forces prior to the paper officially commencing. Bonus! Score! Phew! Because of this we were named Team 1.

I feel quite chuffed to have been instrumental in pulling the team together following my quick posting on the team setting-up forum. Which by the way was very useful, and the guidelines to follow for introducing yourself were immensely helpful. 

Given that the team were scattered between Tauranga, Wellington, and Christchurch I feel we managed to co-ordinate meetings extremely well over Skype and online collaboration using One Note. At times not everyone could attend and in that case we generally typed messages over skype so that a trail was left behind for the missing participant to catch up on later. 

I definitely found strong personalities and people with a fair amount of drive in the team. This was good as it helped keep us chugging along with the assignment. 

My topic was the topic culled. No issues there, although at times I did have that ‘what can I do feeling?’. However, I was pleasantly pleased and relieved when the team were open to my slightly more out there recommendations. One involved using ultra-sonic to triangulate possums so they could be herded up easier, and then ideally (in my view) shipped back to Aussie where they belong. No need for poison – just relocation back home after a way too long stay in the lovely and tasty New Zealand. My ex-in-laws have had their ‘pet’ possums move out of the garage so I know of some empty space for possums in the Australian Capital Territory.  

Getting back to our team…

I think our team achieved our objectives very well. We were always at the ready with tasks to work on and complete and we volunteered what we’d do rather than being assigned it, which made it easy for jobs to be shared out seamlessly. 

Our team leader Catherine, displayed great eagerness and I found her leadership style democratic and particitive as in the Style Theory of Leadership. Catherine was heavily involved in setting up OneNote online and the Powerpoint online for us to use with Assignments 2 & 3. This I feel taps into the Skills Theory of Leadership whereby she displayed technical skills and thus earned credibility. In addition to her leadership qualities Catherine definitely is a great team worker and co-ordinator and exhibits the desired strengths of co-operation, diplomacy and confidence. 

I personally experienced her diplomacy when I had a family commitment early on in the piece and during that skype call it was decided who would do which role.  I’d previously said to the group I was keen to do an interview. However, I was absent on that call and it was agreed that others would do the interviews. I was a tad disappointed, and I feel she sensed that and later on suggested that I do the interview instead of herself. This was nicely handled by her and I appreciated it. 

Our faithful and confident Editor Liz did a superb job pulling together everyone’s work for Assignment 2. It was a role that she was suited too and had the skills for. At the start of the editing process I would say Liz displayed democratic and particitive skills, but that morphed by the end when time was getting slim and a more authoritarian style appeared from the Lewin leadership styles. Which given the nature of the task was probably needed, so power to her to stand up and take charge. Her Belbin team role as completer/finisher came in strongly as our Editor.

Meg was very organised, and swift acting. This in itself created kudos and respect. We welcomed her planning ideas and suggested direction for the report. The Trait Theory of Leadership slogan of “be like this and they will follow” comes to mind when thinking on Meg’s leadership style.  Her team spirit and co-ordination complemented by her ability to promptly and quickly research information whether it be in the course material or primary or secondary literature was outstanding. 

All in all, I feel this was a great team to be a part of for this challenging distance group work. 

All the best ladies for your future endeavours. It’s been a pleasure getting to know you all and collaborating with you. 

P.S. I was going to add some female superheros images for each of the group members but decided they were all too raunchy looking for a school assignment...