As I entered high
school, most of my experience playing basketball
was in neighborhood backyards and gyms after
hours. In this environment we all learned that
some guys were more fun to play with than
others. There were always the ‘shot hogs’ that
put it up every time they got their hands on the
ball. There were those who crashed into anyone
in their path. And there were those who
criticized every misplay by another player on
their side for the day. So when I went out for
basketball, I was really joining my first
‘team’. As I looked around at those of us who
made it, I was surprised at those not present.
Many that were the best backyard players were
not on the team. Why were those ‘gunners’ that
could hit from anywhere not on the team? The
coaches obviously felt that these guys didn’t
fit into a team environment no matter how well
they could shoot.
So a ‘team’ was
something more than an aggregation of talent.
Somewhere over the years management theorists
grabbed hold of this distinction when looking at
organizational dynamics and ‘teams’ and
‘team-building’ became a discipline of its own.
Google it and choke the Internet with over 316
million references and nearly as many
advertisers. Anything this popular must be the
solution to everything! One writer, Patrick
Lencioni, says that more than a third of the
Fortune 500 companies claim on their web sites
that ‘teamwork’ is a core value of their
company! So there we have it. Teams and teamwork
have reached the ultimate reverence: A means has
become an end-in-itself.
But back to the
real world, many of us in business have been a
member of a team or have seen teamwork in action
only to come away wondering how they are any
different than those ‘workgroups’ in years past.
It turns out that building a team isn’t so easy.
Just ask coaches at every level and they will
tell you that molding a group of players into a
functioning unity, a team, is a job in itself.
At the heart of a team is trust, absence of ego,
healthy conflict and commitment and submission
to the collective. This is hard stuff. In fact
that’s what all of those basketball practices
are about. Getting ‘stars’, in basketball or
management, to give it all up for the team just
doesn’t happen that often. Most of those talked
about ‘teams’ are really just workgroups by
another name. Call them what you will but do you
really have time for all that practice? For an
in-depth discussion of teams and team building,
CLICK MORE
|
| |
The Climate Registry
is a collaboration aimed at developing and
managing a common greenhouse gas emissions
reporting system. It will provide an accurate,
complete, consistent, transparent and verified
set of greenhouse gas emissions data from
reporting entities, supported by a robust
accounting and verification infrastructure.
Illinois is one of 38 states
participating in the Registry which is expected
to become the standard for tracking GHG
emissions in North America. Businesses and
organizations can join in the important mission
of the Registry and submit emissions data
beginning in January, 2008. Participation will
be promoted in a national press campaign.
Mark your calendar and attend a
briefing on the Climate Registry on September
18th from 10 am until Noon in Rosemont,
Illinois. The meeting will give your company a
chance to provide input into the technical
framework being drafted before it is opened for
public comment this fall. For additional
information, go to www.theclimateregistry.org.
RSVP the IEPA to Deirdre.McQuillen@illinois.gov
or call Deirdre at 217-558-0073.
|
| |
As an Illinois
business manager, you know that new legislation
and an ever changing legal environment impacts
your company. Failure to be on top of these new
issues and requirements can be costly. The
Chamber can help you better manage your
business. We offer an extensive catalog of
seminars presented by outstanding business
experts and leading practitioners. Get out your
calendar and look at the business opportunities
offered by our seminars this Fall. For a quick
list and registration information click
MORE
|
| |
| There’s plenty of
investment advice out there but Americans
apparently covet their neighbor’s investment
insight. University of Illinois researchers
studied the stock purchases of over 35,000
individuals and found they tended to follow the
purchases of their friends and neighbors. This
‘neighborhood effect’ was particularly strong
with respect to investments in companies located
within 50 miles of the investor. Population
density also exaggerated this tendency as social
networks in large metropolitan areas made
investors even more likely to follow in the path
of their neighbor. These findings were contrary
to investment habits in other countries. In
China investment choices were found to be
influenced more strongly by locally available
news. In Finland investors looked at the ethnic
background of a company’s CEO. More than 2.5
million purchases were included in the study
across 14 industries. |
| |
According to a report
by Intuit, immigrant women are ahead of their
domestic born counterparts in starting new
businesses. The report says forty percent (40%)
more foreign born women began a business over
the past three (3) years. What is driving this
entrepreneurial energy? These new business
owners are seeking greater flexibility in
raising their children and ways to avoid the
barriers of a traditional job search. Immigrants
can also benefit from what would otherwise be a
disadvantage by turning to the global
marketplace. Capitalizing on their language
skills and connections with both foreign
suppliers and customers, they enter the business
world with strong positives supporting their
ultimate success.
|
| |
| Current
Economic
Indicators |
| Knowing what you can
and can't do will help you prevent costly
mistakes. Call our staff of HR experts. Let Pam
Holleman help you deal with problems safely and
avoid disputes. You can reach the Helpline
toll-free at 800-322-4722. |
| |
| Your membership in the
Illinois Chamber pays! We offer valuable
programs and services to our members at special
discounts. Click
here to see the many posters and HR
reference materials available from the Chamber
to help you run your business. While you're
there, don't miss our growing list of
"Can't Be Beat" seminars and
workshops designed especially for you and
presented by experts and leading practitioners
in the field. Don't see what you need? Contact Gloria
Guy, VP of Business Services. We're here to
serve you! |
| |
Chamber President and
CEO, Doug Whitley, has announced the promotion
of Candace Gerritsen to the position of
Associate Vice President for Operations. Candace
has previously served as Executive
Administrative Assistant to the President. In
her new role Candace will report directly to
Michael Ayers, Executive Vice President and
Chief Operating Officer (COO) as she assumes
expanded administrative responsibilities while
continuing her work with the president and her
oversight of much of the Chamber’s Chicago
Office operations.
|
| |
 The Chamber
urges all Illinois employers to recognize their
Guard and Reserve employees by signing and
displaying the ESGR Statement of Support. To get
yours, simply complete an online
form and you will receive a personalized
certificate that demonstrates your support. Click
here for answers to Frequently Asked Questions
(FAQ's) for employers and reservists. Also
visit the SBA Veteran's Business Development web
site for assistance to small business owners
that have employees activated in the Guard or
Reserves. Click MORE
|
The
Exec Report - Copyright © 2007 The Illinois
Chamber
Wood
S. McComb, Editor
Debra
McCarver, Director of Communications
|
