Friday, May 3, 2013

Inside the needs of a team- 3 May 2013

Hello,

Recently in class we have focused on the topic of leadership and its relation to the fundamental human needs. This relates to our business as good leaders are also good team members. Most people consider team work terrible, but after the following insight and the resulting adaption of my approach, my experience of team work has begun to change.

Manfred Max-Neef  said” Your effectiveness as a human being, let alone your effectiveness as a leader, depends on how effectively you can engage with your own fundamental needs and with those of the people around you.”

He identified 9 fundamental human needs; they are non-hierarchical and finite. The needs identified are
Subsistence
Protection
Affection
Understanding
Participation
Creation
Idleness
Identity
Freedom

By viewing needs as non-hierarchical, we identify that all 9 needs are equally important. In order to be truly happy, one should have balance of all 9 needs. This relates to us as consideration for team members are highly important in effective teams.  For example; when someone talks in a group and gets shut off the needs that are affected are protection, understanding, creation, identity and freedom. This would result in retraction from the member and a less efficient team.

There are tons of theories out there, getting lost in them can be confusing, my advice is if it resonates with you then apply it to your life. If not, keep looking and find one that does.

Until next time, 
B

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