Teamwork

In my experience on projects of various types around the world, change management and existing modes of operation and culture can become stumbling blocks to progress unless we set the tone for the project correctly up front.

As Far as is Possible

• Be open, receptive, transparent, engaged (as opposed to being reserved, aloof, indifferent or disengaged).

• Bear in mind the fact that both AAT and SAP are complex environments with many inter-dependencies and knock-on effects, so you may be required to consider aspects outside your specific area of expertise or focus.

• Be bold but not arrogant, assertive but not too forceful. We need change, so please embrace this idea. If you do not say we are using the wrong transaction code, we won’t know it.

• Be committed, taking ownership and responsibility with enthusiasm.

• Display considerate collaborative teamwork, respecting other people’s time and pertinent contributions, instead of having your own agenda tangential or contrary to the project agenda, or waffling, generalizing or raising assumed or unfounded concerns.

• Communicate and participate clearly, concisely, consistently, comprehensively and considerately.

• Complain, compare and criticize less.

• Acknowledge people with something of value to add.

• Identify real problem areas and actual training requirements, not ‘nice to haves’.

• Allocate and prioritize time for the project.

• Seek continuous improvement.

• Meet deadlines.

• Arrive on time and properly prepared.

• Say what you do and do what you say.

• Be stronger than your strongest excuse.

Please, don’t

Manipulate, capitulate, abdicate, deflect, divert, derail, circumvent, misdirect, delay, feign involvement, trip up or dilly-dally.

In meetings and workshops, we all have the right to, respectfully

• Declare a Tangent, i.e. something raised off topic of not directly relevant to the agenda or discussion, or out of scope or the timeline.

• Park an Item, i.e. record it for a separate, later discussion, especially items requiring more time to debate, or for only some of the participants or some others.

“The world is changed by your example, not your opinion of it.”