Yeah, I'm just a marshmallow ... a CHAMPION marshmallow

[hrj]

So you know how I had that dream that handed me my war cry of "Because I'm bossy and have control issues!? I think I had another one of those moments today in an off-site team building day with co-workers. We're doing this competitive small-team competition involving building a tower out of uncooked spaghetti with a marshmallow on top. (Look: either you've done one of these and you know exactly what I'm talking about or this makes as much sense as one of my dream journal entries.) And as the boss is explaining the scenario and even before we draw lots for teams I say, "Ok, I have the perfect design in mind, so whoever ends up on my team, be prepared to follow orders and hit the ground running." Which was totally against the intended theme that productive teams are all about give and take and open communication and cooperative interactions.

Things might have gone differently if this was a thrown-together group that was truly exploring new teamwork possibilities with unknown strangers. But no, my team members just shrugged and said, "What do you want us to do?"

We won (naturally). Me? Competitive much? What gave it away? And for anyone who isn't already aware: if you ever end up on a team with me, just know that I can lead, I can follow, but I will not tolerate futzing around negotiating and "processing" -- especially when there's bragging rights to be won.

Comments

[thread-walker.livejournal.com]

snicker!

I enjoyed that. I left work after 11pm. I think it would have been funny even if I'd left on time.

[karinfromnosund.livejournal.com]

I'd just like to warn you: I'm not interested in winning at all, and I find "teambuilding" and "competition" to be an especially ridiculous combination.

So you build your tower however you like, and I sit down here and watch. If you need me to hold up something, just give it to me. I'll hold. Promise!

*eg*

[mariedeblois.livejournal.com]

Congrats on being able to be so forthright about being bossy and having control issues. I can be the same way, but I usually can hold back until folks start futzing around too much and flailing for lack of leadership. Oy.

[herveus.livejournal.com]

I can see where that war cry might fit me. I was doing some Boy Scout leader training, and we had one of these sorts of activities. I immediately recognized the puzzle we were set to solve and just took over with the direction. Everyone else went with the flow and we were done lickety-split.

I do try to moderate myself, all the same. That may explain why I can have a hard time getting help with things.

[vnend.livejournal.com]

As long as you also have enough tact to be able to resist the urge to tell your boss that their idea sucks and why (and be right) this can work.

I can sympathize. That's pretty much how I've saw a 'team leader' (manager in everything but title and salary...) end up leading a business meeting with a VP, a couple of directors and I don't know how many managers in it. The project manager was delighted. Naturally, the effective team leader was laid off three months later...

Congratulations to your team.