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Learning Teamwork
Ten years ago, the corporate office held a go-karting a teambuilding event; I still reminisce about it fondly as I push my boy around on his tricycle.
However, my real education in teamwork came two decades ago as a laborer in a landscape crew. There was a true camaraderie in that small group of six guys moving dirt up and down the Oakland hills. We had our roles, and we worked hard together.
We were also paid hourly; we only made money when we showed up. There was no luxury of missing time, even if our bodies weren’t 100%. If someone wasn’t feeling great, we’d cover and carry a little extra load until he got better.
I was the beneficiary of this informal arrangement on the single public project during my six months with that crew. A week before the big project, I hurt my back moving mud up a hill. It was bad (I would feel its effects for several years).
I could barely walk, but for prevailing wage I made it to the job site. The guys covered me, handing me the easy tasks – shuffle tools around, signal traffic, etc.
Trust is created when the team rallies around its weakest member, when that person is most vulnerable. Reciprocity is earned by favors truly earned.
Weekend events may be a perk of working a desk job, but real teams are forged on Monday through Friday.
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One Question
How can we create great teams when they work on multiple (slightly adversarial) entities?
Hit reply and let’s chat!
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Three Links
Cal Newport on the eureka moment that is typically often built upon long grinding frustration. How can we keep fighting the difficult low-visible tasks that really pay off in our profession?
12 Rules for Creativity. The comics of Grant Snider are consistently enjoyable, even when thye skirt the edge of being overly precious.
Philipp Schaerer’s exhibition “Ornament & Découpage” (2019) is a stunning series of composites set in historical landscape photos.
… and a photo.
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Thanks for reading the OPM letter! I’d love to have a conversation if you have any feedback. I hope you found some prompts to stretch your craft and relationships as a curious Owner PM. See you next week!
Stay humble, be kind, and keep experimenting!
Justus Pang, RA