Leadership, teams and adaptive management

Leadership, team building and game design

Last weekend while reading Jesse Schell's Art of Game Design I got attracted by the similarities of what he called perspectives, lenses and qualities that might be used by a game designer or by the interactive storyteller, to those of any leader. He says that the main skill of such a person is to know how to listen, or to be a good listener. I consider this the main quality of a leader. Turned inside out, it can also be the worst defect of a bad leader. The game designer or storyteller often works in a team, or with and for people. Therefore, a good team management is desirable for a good project. The leader(s) must be sensitive to undesirable conditions or siutations in a team, and must be brave enough to change the project or redirect action. I would call this "adaptive management" of teams. This is a concept used in natural resource management, but which I believe is suitable for any team work.

Related to team work and development, I found this interesting website created by Ken Thompson on BIOTEAMS. Basically, he proposes that we should adapt some characteristics of collective work existent in nature to human team development. He defends that we should work in collective leadership teams, in which everybody is leader. For example, among the pinguins there isn't a main leader (or boss), as well as with many insects and mammals. Everybody plays their roles, but for the sake of the group's project (work), not for their individual "self". Practicing these skills might be very hard in a society dominated by "command and control" philosophy and individual competition. He compares team work in business as a football team, in which everybody plays a role, for the benefit of the team.

Just some late night thoughts... Watch this funny video and think about leadership and team work.

What are some questions related to leadership and team work that might derive from this funny video?

Have a good night,

Me

Comments

Mar said…
That's hilarious! So, the little birds were arguing with each other until they had a common threat to unite around. Then, they grouped together to take on the bird that was unlike them. In the end, the tables turn, and they are the ones being laughed at.

People working in groups no doubt experience the same thing. Each has his own idea of what is to be done. So, there is a bit of conflict because of this. But, then, if someone comes along who REALLY starts to change things up, then the initial group unites to take on the "outsider". Therefore, the initial group may have not really had conflict, just a lack of good communication/ listening skills. And similarly, the "outsider" may actually have some really good ideas that should be taken into consideration!
esme_design said…
It gives a new meaning to "pecking order". :o)

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