My First Assignment

I learnt about the inadequacy of “team-building” on my first assignment for The Commander, and his side-kick, Sue. They had spotted some problem, unspecified, in the planning department of St. Angela’s. It was a general gut feeling that all was not well; there had been talk about “tensions”.

On the surface, it looked like an impressive set-up with some very talented people employed to develop St. Angela’s strategy and operational plan under its affable director, Duncan McNiel. Ah, team-building – you do your diagnostic interviews, design the programme of exercises, and deliver them and sign off. With a bit of reading, I thought it would be a piece of cake.

I was taught all those years ago by a wise professor who had consulted widely with all the top companies. I think, judging by his fabulous Mercedes car, that he was successful. He was an enthusiastic local dramatist and his golden tip to us, his eager students, was to always “go behind the curtain”. There is in all organisations according to him, a front-stage, and a back-stage. If you want to earn big money, be a back-stage player. That was his advice but, at the time, I did not really understand what he was talking about. Continue reading →