Team Building Dynamics

By Racheal Kiiza
I have heard about teams, team work, and a whole lot on team dynamics but I had never looked at them on a broad basis like how it was done in Kyusa Uganda –Module one training manual last week.
One would wonder what a team really is since the word is used almost everywhere and anywhere.  A team is a group of people that share a common purpose, to which they are all committed, and who are empowered to set goals, solve problems and make decisions.
Team work on the other hand is work done by associates or a team of people to achieve a common goal efficiently.
For any organisation, business   and firm to be successful there has to be team work and this helps the goals to be achieved easily since there is unity and synergy. The benefits of team work are immense and can only be realized when there is effective team work: this leads to trust building, communication network, co- operation among other benefits of team work.
“The best way to find out if you can trust somebody is to trust them” an interesting saying by Ernest Hemingway.  Trust  building is crucial in  team work because you cannot work  effectively with people you do not trust .Therefore the participants were encouraged to build trust amongst themselves and here various games were used to execute this like the blind man’s game.
Team formation involves five stages in which teams are developed for example forming, storming, norming, performing and adjourning. Teams go through these stages although some don’t reach the performing stage and they get stuck in the norming stage.
In any team, there are people from all walks of life with different culture, religion, tribes, among other things and for a team to be effective there is need to understand and do in depths study on culture and its implications on society, as well as cultural diversity.
Team functions were outlined like directing, coaching, supporting, delegating and its crucial for a team to understand what it is supposed to do so that they work with understanding of what they are doing.
People learn through different ways and it’s important to understand as well as identify each person’s learning style so that as an activity   is being carried out by team members they know which style each person works best under.
In conclusion, interpersonal relationships are crucial in any organisation which has various teams and it helps to set boundaries among team members, respecting people’s personal space among other things. When people‘s space is evaded, they feel uncomfortable and may even end up avoiding the group members yet synergy is important for effective team dynamics.
Therefore I can clearly say the participants are well equipped with knowledge on team dynamics, how to form teams, benefits, communication among others.

For Breakthrough Innovation, Focus on Possibility, Not Profitability

by Michelle Stacy  |   2:00 PM June 23, 2014

More than 15 years after its founding, Google remains a company that inspires profound admiration — and at times, a bit of confusion.

The company is currently investing in self-driving cars, a futuristic idea that some people believe will never be achieved. It’s also rolling out Google Glass, a wearable computing device that’s inspired skepticism and some mockery.

The derision is misplaced. As someone who’s been involved in marketing breakthrough innovations, I’m convinced Google’s approach is the right one. Google is focused on possibility rather than profitability — a mindset that’s necessary to create innovations that transform categories. Many breakthrough innovations I’ve led have suffered when I’ve let the profitability mindset creep in. Google should be admired for first setting out to answer the question: “Is this possible?”

Successful innovations programs create a balance between the probable/profitable short-term programs and the possibility programs that challenge the status quo. Unfortunately, most companies are organized and focused on the probable/profitable short term, and therefore miss the potential of breakthrough innovation that comes from being focused on the possible.  This is frequently how well-established category leaders miss opportunities that transform their categories.

Programs that transform take patience. Speed to market, probability of quick return, and profitability mindset have to take a backseat to truly delivering a product that delights the consumer in everyaspect. My perspective on this comes from my own experience.

At Keurig, the pod-based coffee company where I worked as president for six years, sales grew at a 61% compound annual rate, propelling Keurig Green Mountain from $500 million to $4.5 billion in net sales from 2008-2013.  Keurig machines sit on the counter in more than 18 million households. Most people think that Keurig just recently appeared.  But in fact, Keurig was founded more than 15 years ago.  The first machines were sold in 2000.

Today, The brewers cost $100 or $150, still a significant premium to the standard drip coffee maker. But what many people forget is that in its early years, Keurig brewers cost $900 apiece. Early K-cups were made by hand. Keurig opted to  start out in the office coffee market, not the consumer market. That made the $900 price point competitive and acceptable. The whole approach to the office became a way to commercialize the design quicker and to gain consumer experience as the company drove the brewer down the cost curve. The wider diversity of coffee drinkers in an office (vs. a single consumer household) planted the seeds of the importance of having an eco-system of brands beyond our own. This led to the variety and partnering strategy that has been at the core of Keurig’s success. Today, Starbucks, Dunkin Donuts, Folgers, Caribou, Peets, and Snapple, to name just a few, participate as partners in the system.  It’s the only brand of single serve that offers a wide variety of brands of coffee and roasts, along with other beverages.

If the company’s founders and early leaders had focused on profitability instead of possibility, I’m not sure the system would have been as successful. And they certainly wouldn’t have invited the competition to share in the system to maximize the variety. Variety accelerated the growth.  It was the vision of transforming the way consumers make coffee that took them on the decade long journey to success, growth and profitability.

Possibility sharply focuses the scope of the breakthrough innovation. If the only question is “Is it possible to make it?”, then that question defines who you bring onto the team both from a capability standpoint (can this person help us figure it out?) and from a character standpoint. (Specifically: Does this person bring an optimistic or pessimistic perspective?) People who make great leaders of breakthrough innovation programs always ask the “What if” question. It frees you to look for talent and resources beyond your company — who are the partners who will share your vision, who bring incremental talent and cross-category perspectives to make this work?

One of the key ingredients to the possibility mindset is the addition of truly understanding what the consumer wants.  The question isn’t just “Is it possible to make it?” but “Is it possible to make exactly what your specific target consumer wants?” In contrast, the profitability mindset shuts down ideas and shortcuts the process. It stifles creativity and likely limits the team to only those ideas, capabilities, business models, and resources already inside the company.

Once the original ‘is it possible’ question has been solved for, the trick is to apply the same optimistic, focused thinking to the commercialization process. Now that we know it is possible to make, is it possible to make smaller, faster, better, and more cost effectively?

The opportunity is to create a win-win:  Create something that is right for the consumer and by doing this, transform a category and create a long term sustainable growth opportunity for the company.

Google is looking at “possiblity’ with Glass and self-driving cars. Both may seem like strange or silly innovations today, but over time they could turn into true breakthroughs and gain wide acceptance.

Every child deserves a good education

Ahead of the day of the African child day scheduled for  the 16th of this month, under the theme a child Friendly, quality, free and compulsory education for all children in Africa, country wide consultations are going on to identify key challenges failing child progress in school.

The findings will be presented to the parliamentary committee on education for a way forward.

According to the district education officer Kampala Hajjati Kulthum Muzaata, her office has registered an increase in complaints of child abuse, mainly perpetrated by teachers against pupils and students.

The major complaints are defilement, corporal punishments and teacher absenteeism all which have an effect on the performance of the pupils. She adds that unless the authorities work on putting up an all inclusive education system, the grand target of education for all will be hard to achieve.

Hajjati Muzaata was appearing at the central region consultative meeting on education, with key stakeholders including student leaders from the central region.

The students and pupils presented the various issues that are affecting performance in schools saying their demands should be presented before by parliament for consideration.

The meeting comes as part of the activities to mark the day of the African child.

Other consultative meetings are to be held across the country, including one with members of parliament that seat on the parliamentary committee on education.

Among other things, the meeting will outline key areas to prioritize in the coming financial year.

Universities should have uniform fees

President Yoweri Museveni wants all the Uganda universities to charge same fees for all students from the East African member states.

The president was responding to complaints from the   students under the Great Lakes Students Union meeting at Makerere University.

The president says even when other regional countries have not yet harmonized their school dues to the regional expectations Uganda should set a precedent.

The president has tasked university authorities to explain the disparity in tuition payment among university students.

During the Great Lakes Students Union summit in Makerere students from various countries reported to the president that they pay too much money in tuition compared to their counterparts here.

This is the trend in many universities in the region but Uganda should be exemplary by setting a precedent in harmonizing university tuition.

The President says the East Africa integration means border-less operation as though east Africa is one destination.

Therefore discrepancies especially in the education sector should be harmonize to suit regional interest.
Students' leaders under the Great Lakes Students union were meeting at Makerere University earlier today for a convention under the theme "the role of the Youth in propelling unity peace and prosperity in the Great Lakes region".

The one day conference at Makerere university drew students from Ugandan universities, Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi,Tanzania ,Somalia ,Somali Land, South Sudan Nigeria Democratic Republic of Congo among others.

The president cautioned the youths against sectarianism on tribal lines, religion and chauvinism which the major causes of unwarranted divisionism

Museveni says the biggest problem in Africa is pseudo ideology which breeds instabilities on the continent.

The students however thanked the president for his intervention in Somalia and South Sudan to restore peace.

Gen Elly Tumwiine the patron of the students union applauded the current and past students in this association that has bred a peace loving generation.

Gov't to roll out e-learning

Government is adopting a of number modalities to roll out e-learning in different sectors with in the country.

Emphasis is also directed onto the private sector to opt for ventures in broadband networks to cover most parts of the country.

This is expected to facilitate the delivery of new ICT based service, such as government.

Government is currently viewing the national ICT policy to ensure that it becomes holistic and brings out objectives and strategies to key social sectors such as education and health.

This is to ensure that e-learning is effectively and efficiently integrated into different sectors at different levels around the country.

It is therefore strategic that Uganda is collaborating with other partners to host the 9th e-learning Africa conference here.

The conference will focus on extensive capacity building on all aspects of ICT enhanced learning and training.

It is expected also to offer new possibilities for using ICTs in areas of expanding access to learning for the poor and marginalized communities in remote rural areas.

Key results areas also include stimulation of local education practitioners about new ways of improving the quality of learning and teaching for an employable generation.

The government of Uganda is also considering optimizing regional connectivity among major information networks through the creation and the development of regional ICT backbone and internet exchange points.

This will in the long run reduce interconnection costs and broaden network connectivity and access.

The Vice President His Excellency Edward Ssekandi says government is committed to developing and growing e-learning facilities and infrastructures.

The government has also turned attention to building confidence and security in the use of communication systems, most especially the internet.

Great efforts are being geared towards building trust, and protecting both data and network integrity.

Internet usage in Uganda still wanting

With 40% of the world's population with access to internet, the network now accounts for 21% of the Gross Domestic Product in developed economies with great contribution towards the socio - economic development.

The Uganda Mozilla community has therefore launched a three a day train a trainer session to equip various web users with effective usage skills.

With its relevance, internet is critical in the economic development and growth but it calls for routine training in different packages to remain at the edge. Though internet coverage continues to grow significantly, effective usage remains wanting.

Therefore, its important that web designers come up with workable strategies to improve effective usage.

The Global Mozilla Foundation is a web service provider, it is here to champion a three day train a trainer session where a number of resource persons have been attracted from all over the world to share experiences.

The training brings together different Mozilla communities globally on more technology development strategies.

According to the Mozilla community web developer, Rakesh Arky, the training will highly benefit society with knowledge and skills on how to upgrade their tradition of livelihood.

The Internet continues to be the most democratic of all the mass media with a very low investment, wide market, and direct, fast and economic reach globally generating room for one's expression

Schools should work with communities

Schools and education institutions have been urged to work closely with the communities they serve.

The call comes after complaints that most schools shun communities surrounding them, preferring to work in isolation.

This was reached at during a community - head teachers meeting at Mbogo High School in Kawempe Urban Council called to look at ways schools can work better with the communities surrounding them to improve the quality of education imparted to students.

Parents and surrounding communities are by law mandated to have a stake in the schools operating in their areas but this relationship has fizzled out in the recent past.

Many schools, especially those privately owned lock out communities, fearing scrutiny of their activities.

Communities also tend to shun these schools.

But educationists meeting at Kawempe have said schools must increase cooperation with their neighbors, to safeguard the lives of the students they teach who most times interact with the same communities.

Hajjat Ndifuna Matovu, the Head Teacher Mbogo High School in Kawempe said schools may improve their relationship by jointly undertaking in communal cleaning exercises.

Schools were also called upon to conduct business with the surrounding communities to build bonds that spur regional economic development.

Leadership is rooted in your life story

Leadership is not about one's position or title, it is about Life Story. Everybody has a unique story, everybody can and should lead.

Most of us human beings wrongly believe that just some of us can be leaders. We constantly cherish the myth that just a few of us are going to be chosen by the leadership "god" and the rest of us will be condemned to be followers. I deeply reject this prejudicial idea. As well, many strongly defend that some people are born to be leaders and others followers. We deliberately label ourselves as unchanging individuals without giving ourselves a chance to reflect on these poor and dangerous assumptions.

Most of the time, we also assume that all leaders are positive leaders, which is completely inaccurate. History is filled with many unfortunate examples. In addition, we are bombarded by the media that continually displays images of leaders depicted as superhuman beings with mysterious powers and unreachable abilities. This appealing vision of the untouchables is always seductive, but in reality we ALL can lead.

Indeed, we should acknowledge that starting at school, all human beings have some leadership potential to be discovered and developed. All human beings have leadership: traits, abilities, and potential, that they need to be aware of. All human beings have a unique life story, which is more important than leadership traits or abilities. We all have a long story to tell, which is formed by diverse real-life experiences that only each of us could personally comprehend and transform.

True leadership starts within ourselves and within our life stories. By testing ourselves through life experiences and reflecting on it, we are in fact constantly working at knowing and re-defining ourselves. In other words, through self-knowledge and formative experiences, we are able to constantly define our core beliefs, principles, values, strengths, and discover our endless possibilities to achieve success.

By enhancing our potential, we are actually building our own leadership path based on authenticity and uniqueness. Life stories offer tremendous information regarding leadership roots, and underline where and when peoples' leadership roles happen. Many of us do not realize that authentic leadership is strongly rooted in our life story.

Re-framing our stories enables us to recognize that we are not victims at all but people shaped by experiences that provide the impetus for us to become leaders. Our life stories evolve constantly as we shape the meaning of our past, present, and future. (B. George, True North)

Leadership emerges from our life story as we focus on growing and serving others in many different areas of society. This is liberating and powerful knowledge to recognize that our external impact begins with our internal exploration. Re-framing our life story gives us the opportunity to continually thrive. People's leadership influence is based on their unique self-concept, and what they want to be. The development of our leadership abilities should be perceived as a long term commitment; a long devotion to developing ourselves and always taking responsibility for it.

3 Things About Problem Solving Which Albert Einstein Teaches Us

Problem solving has a synonym in the corporate world today – fire fighting. Up to 70% of employees’ time at work is spent fire fighting. Thus they spend more than 6 hours out of 9 in a day grappling with problems which should not exist. What a waste of productivity! Imagine what organizations can achieve if hundreds (or thousands) of employees get these 6 hours daily (or 30 hours weekly) to work on something constructive!

The concept of problem solving in most companies today is flawed. “If it isn't urgent, worry about it later,” is the mantra. Eventually, the ignored problem becomes so massive that it calls for – you guessed it – fire fighting. This behavior is so deeply entrenched in most organizations that it has become a culture.

Many of you may be nodding while reading this. But how should we combat it? Well, here are 3 quotes from Albert Einstein. 3 principles which helped him achieve mammoth levels of success. 3 principles which can help you revamp the way your team functions and addresses problems.

1. “It’s not that I’m so smart, it’s just that I stay with problems longer.”

We don’t want a problem to stay around for long; we want to get rid of it as soon as possible. Hence most of us jump into resolution mode immediately. Each person – to shine brighter in front of his boss – becomes an expert on solving it. The meeting room echoes with dialogues like “listen to me”, “I know what to do” and “this is how we’ll do it”. But these employees fail to realize that the proposed resolutions are merely quick fixes. The problem will rear its ugly head again. So what should employees do? Well, read on.

2. “If I had an hour to solve a problem, I’d spend 55 minutes thinking about the problem and 5 minutes thinking about solutions.”

This is arguably the best piece of advice Albert Einstein has given us. The more time one spends understanding a problem, the more effective the resolution. Techniques like 5 Whysand Fishbone allow people to get to the root cause of the problem, and take corrective measures to ensure it never occurs again. Ask Paul O’Neill who turned an ailing Alcoa into one of corporate America’s heavyweights by simply addressing one core problem – worker safety. Don’t look for solutions immediately; take time to comprehend the gravity of the issue at hand. Keep redefining the problem until you get to the root cause. The solutions you and your team devise will actually save you and your team a lot of fire fighting. And for all you know, the resolutions may open up new business avenues for you.

3. “Logic will get you from point A to point B. Imagination will take you everywhere.”

Edward de Bono points out in Lateral Thinking that too often we spend time measuring how right or wrong a solution is. But you can’t dig a hole at a different location by digging the same one deeper. Be prepared to consider all options, no matter how relevant or irrelevant they are to the current scenario. And this concept isn't only applicable to problem solving. It can be used in designing, engineering and all other fields.

Most Common Resume Mistakes

If a recruiter sees one spelling or grammatical error on a resume it will be thrown into the trash.

Survey conducted last year of more than 2,000 hiring managers and HR professionals. The study asked them to name the “most common and most outrageous real-life resume mistakes they see.”

Most common mistakes

• Resumes with typos
• Candidate has an inappropriate, non-professional-sounding email address
• Resumes with missing information—no dates of employment, no list of skills
• Resumes are too generic, not tailored for the position
• Resumes that copy/paste text from the job ad
• Resumes printed on decorative paper
• Resumes that are too long or too short
• 1 in 3 Employers reject you due to something they found online which is not mentioned in your resume

Most outrageous

• Resume was written entirely in the Star Trek language of Klingon
• Resume used text-speak — the letter “u” instead of the word “you”
• Under objective the candidate wrote “To work for someone who is not an alcoholic with three DUI’s like my current employer”
• Candidate neglected to include his/her name in the resume
• Resume included baby pictures of the candidate
• Resume included jail term served for assaulting former boss

While the above “outrageous resume examples” may sound amusing and unbelievable, having your resume rejected because of errors is certainly believable—and missing out on a potential job opportunity is no laughing matter.

The most common mistakes on a resume would be, believe it or not, the small details. Not so much what is on a resume, per say. For example, an extra space where it is not needed, a period after the month, abbreviation in one place and not another. Many employers look at the small details to make sure you actually put time and effort into a resume. If you say you pay attention to detail and then you have a three-letter month abbreviation in one place and a four-letter month abbreviation in another, the employer will wonder how you did not catch the discrepancy.

The latest trends in resume writing would have to be design. If you are a job seeker looking to have your resume stand out amongst the rest, your resume should not be a plain bold name here, or bold title there. Rather, consider using a template that you can purchase online or contacting your alma mater and asking for some templates. Making your resume stand out from the pack is always beneficial.

Now, there are wrong ways and right ways to “stand out”. Highlight your skills, minimize gaps in employment and wow them with your summary of qualifications. Remember to ask for a critique of your resume. You very well may miss a detail or a critical spelling error.