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Advanced：上級編 Unit 5 Teamworkについて
Jonathan講師がお贈りします。
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Getting Result #5
Business Results Advanced Unit 5 - Teamwork
There is an oft used expression that says the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. In other words a team will be more effective than any of the individuals on it. At the most recent meeting of the United Nations President Obama spoke to this very issue when he said under his administration the United States would look for help in addressing global issues, that going it alone in the past had not had the desired effects.
I found the speech very interesting and as a Canadian whose country lacks the resources to act unilaterally I found the comments encouraging. I feel that my country is at its best when we work together with others.
That said I would like to look at a less political or controversial topic when discussing teamwork. I think the perfect example of teamwork is the inclusion of professional athletes into traditionally amateur events like the Olympics.
The first example of this was the “Dream Team” which won basketball Gold at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. This team was made up of the best to have ever played the game, including Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson and Larry Bird. I think this team was probably the rare example where the best players were chosen and won. I would argue that it was because of whom they were, they were the best, they all respected each other and they were all “team” guys.
The National Hockey League (NHL) decided to emulate the NBA’s success and allowed its best players to join their respective national teams for the Winter Olympics in Nagano in 1998. As a Canadian this was a dream as it would finally allow us to send our best players. Ice hockey is a religion in Canada so we thought that while it would be competitive we would win. We sent our very best players and we lost. It was a national disaster! The reason, we sent the best individuals not necessarily the best team.
In 2002 at Salt Lake we sent a different team. We picked the best players in each role; defensive players, special team players and what we call grinders; that they would play on a team rather than simply the 20 best players. When you send the best players you often get a one-sided team. Who plays defense if the team is all offensive superstars? In 2002 we sent defensive specialists who would not show up on the top 20 list but were respected for doing the little things well.
I think this also comes up when you look at the WBC (World Baseball Classic). Most people will agree that the Major leagues is the best baseball league in the world, home to most of the world’s best players even the best that Japan has to offer. So why then do the teams with the most major leaguers not win the WBC? Where is the Dominican Republic or the Americans? In 2006 the final was played between Cuba and Japan with Japan winning. In 2009 it was Japan facing South Korea in the Final. Cuba is unique in that they send their national team, since they play together all the time it stands to reason that they would play as a team. What about Japan and South Korea? They both send teams made up of star players from different teams in their respective professional leagues so why have they had more success? I would argue that the main reason is that some teams buy into the team concept more easily than others. I think it would be much more difficult to ask Alex Rodriguez to bunt than it would be to have Ichiro do so? Why? Well one partly because there is a different style of game played but also because A-rod is a home-run machine. If everyone in the line-up is a similar player then does anyone step up to sacrifice bunt?
On a balanced team everyone has roles to play and brings different strengths and skills to the table. They also recognize and accept those roles. Individual efforts can only take you as far as the individual ability allows.
Let’s look at another Olympic event; rowing. When you have all eight guys rowing in sync that bow really flies, the same 8 guys rowing with the same power and ability but without coordination does not get you to the finish line.
What about the team that you work on? Are you all rowing in the same direction or are you looking for individual accomplishment before team success?
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Unit 5 Teamworkの目的は
Team relationshipsについて探究すること
争いに対処する方法、意見を強調する方法
フィードバックに対して意見を言う方法を学ぶことです。
Advancedレベルになりますと、
テキストを読んで該当ページに出てくる語彙や文法などを
きちんと理解して使えるようになるだけでなく
その課題についての自分の意見をまとめて
英語で表現できる力が必要になります。
※最終的には英語で考え、
英語で意見を表現できれば素晴らしいですね！
ジョナサンのTeamworkについての
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