The 11th season of “Project Runway” (Lifetime TV) began the other night with a fascinating twist: all the contestants had to compete in teams, not as individuals.
It was interesting to watch their reactions to this news — even the ones who hated the idea had their smiling, game face on, as they all insisted they were perfectly happy with this new twist.
The reason for the teams? As Heidi Klum and Tim Gunn explained, no one in fashion works alone. Everything must be done by a team, so being able to work with a team is as important as the designs themselves.
As the episode continued, some contestants struggled with their designs, and other contestants struggled with whether or not to help their struggling teammates. After all, they are all competing for the same rather large prize, and only one person out of the initial 16 could win it. But in each episode, only one team could win. The winning team would include one designer who would win the entire challenge for that week, and the losing team would include one designer who would be sent home.
So it begs the question, “Can helping someone else succeed hinder my own success?”
But it also highlights a much more interesting question, which is, “How does not helping others succeed hinder my success?”
These questions directly relate to the world of corporate business, too, as we have teams within departments, and various different departments that all make up one larger team called the company. For the utmost productivity, everyone must play well together as a team.
How’s your teamwork? Are you only out for yourself? Do you place your career goals and needs above the overall needs of your company? Do you feel threatened that others will get ahead of you; or get the position you want?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, then it’s safe to say you’re not a good team player. If you’d like to be sure, take this quiz: Are You a Team Player?
What if you’re really great at what you do … is being a team player still important? Isn’t it enough that you shine brightly, all by yourself?
An acquaintance told me the following story. In her early 20s, she became the head patternmaker for a new dress manufacturer, with a staff of three other patternmakers and several seamstresses under her. She was a very talented patternmaker; in fact the owner of the firm said she was the best he’d ever seen. Yet a year or so later, he called her into his office and fired her, saying, “You’re the only fully competent person I’ve ever had to fire … but you’re just not a team player.”
So she lost a great job, even though she was a shining star in her own right.
The rest of season 11 of “Project Runway” will likely be a great case study in teamwork — both what to do, and what to avoid doing. Contestants will have to give feedback to their teammates each week. Will they be honest, genuinely trying to help each other for the sake of the team? Or will they be playing a sneaky game, trying to gain personal advantage?
You know there are bound to be some underhanded players; that’s what makes “Project Runway” so much fun to watch. Will playing a game (other than the game of genuine teamwork) help them to win, or will it blow up in their faces?
You know what I’ll be watching on Thursday evenings!
BRODY often hears from its corporate clients about the lack of teamwork on projects and the subsequent consequences in lost revenue. It’s any combination of lack of communication, not understanding each other’s behavioral styles and poorly managing conflict. We offer training programs in these topic areas as well as teambuilding workshops, to help teams improve their communication and ultimate success.
To learn more about BRODY’s teambuilding workshop, and other training programs related to improving intact or new teams, visit our website.