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Introduction |
| This book is for anyone who would like to live and
work in groups effectively and productively. It is for those who would
like to get the best out of relationships. It is for those who would like
to achieve something with others, knowing they are able to work the best
of their ability, knowing they are appreciated for their efforts, and
knowing the satisfaction of the tremendous potential outcomes of a
combined effort.
Although
relationships are central to personal and corporate success, most people
are ill-prepared for the challenges of developing positive group
relationships, unlike so many other areas of our lives. Although one needs
lessons and a licence to drive a vehicle, for example, there is little
preparation and awareness when it comes to driving a team or working
together effectively. More often
than not, when a group of people have to work together, that group is left
to its own devices. If any pressure is placed on the group, they can end
up spending more time trying to deal with potential problems than
achieving. Groups can so easily become counterproductive if they are not
handled appropriately. Bringing
together a group of people who have had little contact with each other or
few positive experiences can be a great challenge. But helping these same
groups to use their combined talents to full potential is highly
satisfying. Enjoying the group
A group may
be you and your partner, or the whole family unit. It might be the people
you sit next to at work, a project team, or the entire company. Whatever
groups you may be living in and working with, there are some very
important principles that will help you learn to get on together. Instead
of spending time dealing with stressful situations, you can be productive
and enjoy the group process, and have everyone benefit from the
experience. The
by-product of this is that whenever you are with the group, you will want
to be there and you will look forward spending time in this environment.
In a home situation, this will translate into improved relationships and
mutual support. In a work situation, the same improved relationships will
result, which should also translate into increased effectiveness and
ultimately improved productivity. It creates a win/win situation all
round. Even better:
If you can learn to see what makes your group work together, then you can
help foster and nurture that group, steering them away from potential
danger and towards practical goal achievement. After
the ten simple steps
Working with
a team is an art. Steering a team through the obstacles that lie ahead and
doing it in a way that is both efficient and considerate is not easy.
There are so many different ways of responding and behaving, and each of
us carries a lifetime of values and experiences that have shaped the ways
we behave long before we get together. We would like
to help you understand your environment, the group of people that you end
up spending time with – even those who may annoy or frustrate you. This
is not a “Ten Simple Steps to Creating Great Groups”, it is a book
that is designed to help you understand people. When you
understand people you will have the confidence to rise to any situation
required of you. Instead of being threatened by those around you, you
become able to harness your own and others’ strengths and pull them
together, inspiring the group to work together to create a happier more
productive environment with higher performance outcomes. To do this we
want to challenge your perceptions about groups and individual and group
behaviours, and ask that read the book with an open mind. We want you to
open up new possibilities for thinking about other people, people who may
see things differently to you. As we enter the Third Millennium, we want to invite you to be prepared to enter the Third Dimension in building relationship networks. THE
3D DYNAMIC
www.tirian.com |