In the modern workforce, teamwork is the cornerstone of any effective organization, and whether you're part of an academic institution, a corporate office, or a local community, the ability to work as a group is a lot harder than it looks. To work together, we as people have to look at the situation, the problem, and the circumstances, like the parable of the elephant. If people stay in the dark about each other's experiences, they only ever see one part of the whole picture. Teamwork is about seeing the Whole Elephant, bringing together disparate perspectives to create and understand something cohesive, and finding ways to not only work well in teams, but thrive in teams.
This podcast showcases the work of the Effective Team Dynamics Initiative at the Georgia Institute of Technology, helping students, faculty, and staff learn how to best work and thrive together in teams. Headed by Dr. Mary-Lynn Realff and now in collaboration with national and international partners, the Effective Team Dynamics Initiative provides a framework for bringing together the strengths and perspectives of different team members and creating innovative solutions to team-based problems. Join the show host, Brittain Postdoctoral Fellow Dr. Lee Hibbard, as he learns more from members of the Initiative and collaborators with the program about everything Effective Team Dynamics has done for their teams, and how audience members in corporate, academic, and community spaces, both working professionals and students alike, can integrate Effective Team Dynamics perspectives into their own organizations.
Teamwork is the cornerstone of the working world. Come with us as we tell you about the ways you can help your team operate with understanding of the Whole Elephant.