Balancing inflated teams is significantly important to their performance. Use of a proper metaphor explains this need adequately

1. NEWMETAPHORS
FORTEAMS
Ali Anani, PhD

2. I dedicate this presentation to
Paul Merino.
His comments and insights
inspired me with the idea
of this presentation.
I am deeply grateful to Paul.
HTTP://SEUILS.ORG

3. Profiling of Team Members
Creative Ideas
Generators
Controllers
Results Seekers
Socialproblems
Solvers

4. Balancing the Wheels
All four types of members
should be present
and “inflated”
equally in teams

5. If not, teams
become like
imbalanced cars

6. But that is
not enough

7. Inflation of
the four tires
must be optimal

8. Over-inflation of tires causes
Uneven tread wear

9. Over-inflation of tires causes
Uneven tread wear
Decreased response
time when driving

10. Over-inflation of tires causes
Uneven tread wear
Decreased response
time when driving
Hitting a curb can cause the tire
to separate from the rim or explode

11. This risk increases in
hot weather
as the tires become
over-inflated with their
hot air content

12. So are over-inflated teams
Over-inflation of teams causes
Uneven tread wear
Decreased response time when driving to their goal
Hitting a curb can cause some team members to disengage
This risk increases in heated and
angry atmosphere of organizations.

13. The team
driver
(leader)
is leading
explosive
passengers
(team members)

14. Team leaders should
avoid over-inflating their
team members if
the prevailing climate is hot

15. Under inflation is
equally harmful

16. Under inflation is equally harmful
This will cause
uneven tread wear
Will lead eventually to the wear
of the inner sidewall of the tire

17. Under inflation is equally harmful
This will cause
uneven tread wear
Will lead eventually to the wear
of the inner sidewall of the tire
Weakening of the entire structure of the tire

18. So are teamsUnder inflation is equally harmful
This will cause
uneven tread wear
Will lead eventually to the wear
of the inner sidewall of the tire
Weakening of the entire structure of the Team

19. Avoid old tires

20. Tires have a shelf life.
In time the rubber loses its flexibility.
When it dries out, it will usually crack
Avoid old tires

21. Make sure old team members
do not lose their
flexibility and adaptability
Rearrange teams.
Better let teams self-organize

22. Deflation of tires may
not be avoidable
Nails and broken
glass are examples

23. Deflation of tires may
not be avoidable
Avoid driving over team
members who have broken
hearts or nail-like
characters

24. Deflation of tires may
not be avoidable
A team leader should
not also delay acting .
Else, the problem
aggravates with time.

25. Deflation of tires may
not be avoidable
Broken glass is problematic.
Discover their presence in
the tire by immersing it in
water to find the hole
caused by the glass

26. Deflation of tires may
not be avoidable
By the same token, immerse
your team in fluid works so
that you may discover
the “hole”.

27. Deflation of tires may
not be avoidable
Check the inner and outer sidewall of the tire
for problems such as the presence of bubbles
This could mean that you have broken a tire band
while suffering the flat, or simply damaged
the sidewall. This poses a serious safety threat

28. Deflation of tires may
not be avoidable
Watch out for bubble talks among
team members and act realizing
that this problem would become
unsolvable if not acted upon.

29. The metaphor- tires that are
inflated to specified pressure.
Inflate people with workload
above or below their “optimal
Zone” the performance goes
down, risk increases and
stress goes upward

30. The metaphor- tires that are
inflated to specified pressure.
Inflate people with workload
above or below their “optimal
Zone” the performance goes
down, risk increases and
stress goes upward
These result in de-motivating the staff.
The vicious spiral starts.

31. The optimal pressure level is dependent
on the tires, road conditions, tire specs.
Likewise; not all employees are the same.
We need to test not only by increasing
pressure on them, but equally important
by lowering pressure. Less workload, go
bird watching are just great examples of
lowering pressure and releasing “excess
unwanted air” inside the employees.

32. Inflationoftiresserves
asagoodmetaphorforthe
inflationofteams
towardsbetter
performance