The high level of collaboration and teamwork within Macquarie can be simply explained by the size of the organisation. Without co-operation the company would cease functioning; the people at Macquarie are like cogs in a watch, without the smooth turning of just one cog, the entire process is affected. The endless divisions and subdivisions is evidence of the absolute need for communication within the workplace. Each task is completed by a team then handed off to another arm of the organisation. Without a degree of transparency between teams, timelines would be misaligned and deliverables would be delayed, which is the exact opposite Macquarie is known for.
The nature of my team
specifically has forced strong teamwork to be utilised. With team members scattered
across different buildings and floors, without constant interaction the team environment would be characterised
by immense waste through rework, waiting etc. Interaction between the OE team members has not been the only collaboration required; OE's clients are the teams of FMG so to be of any practical use we must work with other teams and people in order to deliver results. This characteristic has allowed me to develop my interpersonal skills and build stronger relationships with other employees, while also helping me complete my work more efficiently and effectively through the provision of the right advice at the right time. On a more social note, while Macquarie maintains quite a formal air, there are often outbreaks of chatter and joking. This Hannah-Montana-like environment has been very conducive to getting work completed in a way that doesn't crush your soul (just kidding, I love work!).
It did not surprise me that my colleagues had build solid relationships with one another. The main source of joy when working in any organisation is finding people you want to be around. So seeing interactions between workers outside of the office through drinks or yoga was not a huge shock. Nevertheless it was exciting to know that the workplace does offer the opportunity to build fantastic relationships with new people.
These interactions have been vital to my learning at Macquarie; the ability to feel comfortable asking stupid questions or asking for help on tasks has allowed me to access a greater span of understanding of work I complete. Being able to work alongside other teams has also shown its benefits, as I have picked up knowledge of processes undertaken by other teams such as Group Capital & Funding and Financial Control. Being able to have snapshots of the type of work completed by a range teams has contributed greatly to the shaping of what I will choose as my specific career path, and as such been a significant aid to my personal learning.
It did not surprise me that my colleagues had build solid relationships with one another. The main source of joy when working in any organisation is finding people you want to be around. So seeing interactions between workers outside of the office through drinks or yoga was not a huge shock. Nevertheless it was exciting to know that the workplace does offer the opportunity to build fantastic relationships with new people.
These interactions have been vital to my learning at Macquarie; the ability to feel comfortable asking stupid questions or asking for help on tasks has allowed me to access a greater span of understanding of work I complete. Being able to work alongside other teams has also shown its benefits, as I have picked up knowledge of processes undertaken by other teams such as Group Capital & Funding and Financial Control. Being able to have snapshots of the type of work completed by a range teams has contributed greatly to the shaping of what I will choose as my specific career path, and as such been a significant aid to my personal learning.
Hi Sam
ReplyDeleteYour blog provides a nice comparison to Kane's. Kane wrote about the importance of teamwork for a relatively small firm while you demonstrate the importance of teamwork and collaboration for a very large firm. As you both demonstrate, small and large firms rely heavily on effective teams to ensure processes are completed in an appropriate fashion.
You also effectively illustrate the importance of relationships within members of a team as well as between members of different teams. Having strong working relationships within your own primary team will improve your ability to work effectively with members from other teams.
As you indicate, much of your learning will come from working in these team environments. You'll learn what to do as well as what not to do in team environments by paying close attention to how others act. Finally, take advantage of the career mentoring your fellow team members provide. They've been there done that so they are great sources of information.
Diane
PS When you are first starting out in a new job, there aren't any "stupid questions". Questions are expected from interns/graduates. Your supervisor(s) is most likely to prefer that you ask and learn than make stupid mistakes.