Importance of team work in an Organization.

What works in an organization in reaching its goals is not an individual, but properly integrated teamwork. The main reason is that considering the vastness and the very nature of the work that an organization engages in it is not possible for any one individual to even think of taking the entire load upon his own shoulders.

Considering the vastness of the projects and their complex nature, work necessarily has to be first broken down into compartments in organizations known as departments. Even that is not sufficient, so to enable handling by individuals it is broken down into modules and sub-modules that can be handled manageably by each different employee within each separate department. The special characteristic of sub-modules and modules is that somebody has to continuously man the work interfaces between them.

Unless these interfaces are properly and continuously paid attention to, there is always the possibility that the wrong output or a delayed one is sent from one sub-module into another waiting to receive the correct and timely input. Therefore, an individual responsible for one sub-module needs to always be in touch with another who mans a sub-module which has an interface with it.

Naturally, the work relations between two such individuals can affect the overall target required to be reached by an organization, sometimes in a most significant manner. If the two concerned individuals jell with each other and understand each other's requirements perfectly, they will take sufficient care that the transmission of not only the correct output takes place from one to the next, but it also takes place in a very much timely manner.

Such work interaction that takes into consideration the sensitivities and requirements of different interfacing work modules and of the individuals responsible for them is known as real teamwork. Working as part of a team never can be learnt in a day.

It requires many factors to simultaneously be developed. They include continuous commitment to the overall goal of the organization. An important factor is relationship management. Another two factors are talent and perseverance of team members.

Most of all the development of teamwork requires the experience of working together for a considerable period to iron out all the issues between different employees from different backgrounds and their different work ethics. Concerted coordination between team members forms the watchword in the development of teamwork in an organization and therefore the team coordinator's role becomes paramount.

An organization that succeeds in reaching its targets therefore necessarily has to inculcate the culture of teamwork in its human resources. Without teamwork and mutual understanding between teams of employees, the organizational juggernaut can never grind its wheels like a well-oiled machine in perfect symbiosis between the different subsystems that comprise it.

The Only Shortcut to Success is Hard Work

Ravi Prasad wanted to become a doctor.

He even got admission in the Armed Forces Medical College, Pune.

The medical test revealed a back problem and he was disqualified for the Army Commission.

Today, at 44, he is president and CEO, Himalaya Herbal Healthcare.

Here, he recounts his career highs, suggests tips for management students and offers a glimpse into careers in the beauty and cosmetics industry:

I was disqualified for the Army commission, so I did my graduation in Physics at St Xavier's College, Ranchi.

I then worked at Alken Laboratories for a while, before I decided it would help my career if I had a formal degree in management.

I got an admission at the Asian Institute of Management in Manila, Philippines. I had heard it was a very good management school, as it was started by Harvard.

Studying at the Asian Institute of Management was a different experience because, unlike in India [ Images ] where we cram and memorise, everything was based on case studies and class participation.

In India, you tend to study a month before the examination. There, you had to be regular, and there was no pressure on memorising. You are expected to understand the concepts -- it was very refreshing for me.

Studying at Manila helped me learn to bond, build teams and understand situations from a commonsense point of view.

I moved to Himalaya in 1990 as a Training Manager. I chose Himalaya because I believed in herbal remedies and was sure of herbal products dominating the world scene.

The branding of Himalaya took place four or five years ago, after I became the president and CEO. This is how it came about:

My first strategy was to put everything under the Himalaya brand.
The chairman, Meraj Manal, and I then decided to widen the product range.
We brought about the concept of herbal wellness.
We also advertised heavily to establish the brand.
What I learnt

The high point of my career was working with Meraj Manal.

He taught me to think from the consumers' perspective. We tend to become a little inward at business schools, but he made me think of the consumer first. It was my biggest learning.

I would attribute my rise to hard work.

My goal is to make Himalaya a global herbal leader, a world class brand.

What I would tell young management aspirants

i. Try for the Indian Institutes of Management or a premium management school. Nothing else.

There are quite a few such good schools in India.

ii. There are no shortcuts to success.

Work hard, go out and experience the world. Let the working environment be your teacher.

Opportunities in the beauty industry

There is a great opportunity for youngsters in this industry because it is an interesting industry to be in.

Innovations, new developments are happening every day. A youngster will find it easy to do new things and grow.

The world is taking to herbal products. Both doctors and consumers are moving to herbal products.

As for career opportunities, drugs and cosmetics companies employ people in the technical and business streams.

~ Technical stream

Go for opportunities in the R&D sector.

You must have done a Ph D or Masters in Analytical Chemistry, Organic Chemistry or Botany.

Those who have specialised in formulations can also look at opportunities in this industry.

The technical stream includes quality assurance, product planning, production planning, etc.

~ Business stream

The divisions that you can look at include pharmaceutical, personal care, consumer health, animal health, etc.

Qualities to succeed

1. Are you passionate about your job?

That is the first criterion I look for in a candidate. I believe that without passion, you can't do your job well.

2. Do you have team spirit?

S/he must be a team player. That is most important to me.

3. Are you articulate?

4. Do you have a business qualification?

It is a not a strict criterion, but an MBA is an added advantage.

Potential Obstacle and Setbacks in starting a new Venture.

When you are trying to start up a new venture and successfully implement your business plan, you will probably encounter a few hurdles that need jumping over; I have tried to identify a few of the common situations that you may be able to avoid with some carefully constructed contingency plans.

THE UNCERTAIN ECONOMY
With interest rates and inflation rising whilst house prices and consumer spending continues to fall, this may affect your business in a number of ways, and not necessarily in a bad. If you provide a low price / value product or service, then you may see customers going up, but sales of more luxurious products and services may start to fall, so it is worth considering what you have on offer to customers.

The rough patch scenario also applies in a different way, when constructing a cash flow forecast you may identify, from research, that particulars months are less busy that other so it could be worth putting aside more cash in the busier months to help get through the quieter months. Having a ‘rainy day fund’ may help to avoid problems when your general cash balance is low and you have bills that need paying, or equipment that needs buying.

COMPETITION
Simply; keep an eye on them! You should always be aware of what your competitors are offering and how that compares to what you are offering, and you should take action if necessary by lowering prices or by introducing a special offer to attract the customers of your competitors. You shouldn’t get complacent, even if your product is great; remember that if there is a more attractive or less expensive alternative available to customers, your sales will suffer.

ENVIROMENTAL CONCERNS
If you can recycle or save energy, do it! Customers are becoming more and more aware of the environment and how it should be cared for, and as a result, they expect suppliers to be implementing and maintaining environmental responsibility policies. It is a good idea to have this going from the start so that you can avoid any difficult conversations with customers, and you can proudly state that you recycle and reuse which may generate a little more business and earn you a few more pounds.

ETHICAL AND MORAL RESPONSIBILITY
If you operate your business in a way which is not moral or not ethical, customers may not like it and may take their business elsewhere, a few examples may be;

1. The plumber who creates additional problems that were not an issue before, just to earn some more money
2. The local Chinese takeaway that uses out of date chicken in its food

MONEY TROUBLE
You may be relying on a big investment from a source such as a bank loan or venture capitalist, but this isn’t necessarily guaranteed. It is good for potential investors to see that you are able to develop logical and realistic contingency plans, and a financial one is a great place to start. When looking into how you will finance your new business you should be looking at more than one possibility and have them all in a structured written plan, in order of preference and possibility.

This also applies in an ongoing sense; you should have a plan to cope if your cash flow starts to fall or if you need to buy a new piece of equipment that you don’t have the capital for. You may be thinking; ‘how will I know what my options are if a need a new machine in three years?’ which is why you should review and update any plans on a regular basis to ensure that they remain relevant and realistic.

YOU CANT ESCAPE THE LONG ARMS OF THE LAW
Regardless of what your business does or its size, you will have to obey the laws of the land. There are many laws and regulations which affect businesses on a day to day basis, particularly if your business is incorporated as a limited company, in which case you will have a number of obligations to file statutory documents.

You will have to ensure that certain Legal Acts are adhered to, the common ones that should be researched further are;

1. Health and Safety Acts
2. Employment Acts
3. Company Acts
4. Trade Description & Supply of Goods Acts

Top Tips
1. Consider the state of the economy when setting your price
2. Build up a ‘rainy day fund’
3. Keep an eye on the competition
4. Go Green and stay green
5. Be ethical
6. Have contingency plans
7. Stay legal

LEAD BY EXAMPLE

When you need to motivate your team to complete a task or to think outside the box on a new project, one of the best ways to see results is through leading by example. You can show each team member how to get started on the road to self improvement by enacting the following seven traits of motivating leadership.

1. Practice authenticity
One of the greatest keys in the field of personal development is the practice of authenticity. Encourage each member of your team to remain true to his or her self, and challenge each individual with questions that probe beneath the surface. Ask questions and demand meaningful answers, rather than letting people answer with sentiments they think you want to hear.

2. Nurture self awareness
By nurturing self awareness within yourself and sharing the journey you undergo with your team, you can motivate them to become more aware of their own thought patterns and actions. A heightened sense of self awareness can improve all aspects of your life, and you will notice a difference in the way you make decisions. This is an important tool to foster among your team when you’re hoping to create a group of powerful individuals.

3. Remember that each step is progress
When you’re focusing on self improvement, remember that each step along the way is progress. The important part of your battle is that you show up and put in the effort each day. Members of your team will recognize the way you remain focused, and can greatly benefit from your example.

4. Strive to be present always
Being present in the moment and feeling into your body can help you greatly in every area of your life that you’re looking to improve. When you’re focused on the moment at hand, you can eliminate the distractions of past and future and turn your attention to what’s important.

5. Challenge yourself and face your demons
Don’t be afraid to challenge yourself and to face the hard questions. By tackling your own toughest issues, you can motivate your team members to begin to deal with some of their most emotional battles through your encouragement and example.

6. Encourage open communication and honest feedback
As a leader, one of the greatest gifts you can give to your team is to request open communication and honest feedback from them. By eliminating the fear they may feel from giving you their actual opinions, you can gain their respect and help them to foster trust in humanity.

7. Reflect often
While you work through the processes of personal development, take the time to reflect on your journey in order to fully understand what’s going on and to set new goals. In a group setting, this can also be a powerful bonding tool.

Setting a goal for team members to work on self improvement may seem like a lofty task for the workplace. However, when you lead by example, you can motivate your team in new and more effective ways.