Last week a few of us went to a presentation by Pat Murray on Group Dynamics.  Since we all work in groups it is good to know the psychology of groups.  We are a social animal.  Our behaviors, character, identity, status and place in the world all come from imprinting from our groups.  These groups could include our family, military, corporate, religious and other social organizations.  Groups are a mental configuration.  There is no individual action there is only group action.  Connection to a group is a requirement for human survival.  Many people don’t get over being dumped from a group.  Long term military people die on average 18 months after leaving the military.

Learning more about group dynamics can help organizations recruit better and lead better.  When hiring a new person to join your group the only important decision is do they fit or not.  Here are some questions you could ask during an interview to get to know that person’s groups:

•    Walk me through your resume, take as long as you want.  When the energy goes up ask more questions.  That is their group.
•    Walk me through your heroes and role models.
•    Can you give me some examples of when you have sacrificed a great deal to maintain personal integrity?
•    Can you walk me through everything you are sure of?

Pat said any statement in an interview that can’t be backed up with a concrete example is probably a lie.  That seems a bit extreme to me as people are nervous when interviewing.  Yet, know that past behavior is the best indicator of future behavior.  Getting examples from their past is a good way to know how they might fit.

The role of a leader is to maximize connection and minimize separation in the group.  The leader helps the group deal with the real issues.  Real issues come with high anxiety.  A high performing group will confront this issue.  When the group feels safe enough to speak up and deal with the real issues you have a high performing group.  If you see people go to silence during a meeting.  Or the real meeting is in the bathroom after a meeting.  Then your group needs to work on communicating more effectively.  On a basic level you need to get reality on the table and confront it.  This will help build trust, relief and energy in your group.

I believe Taylor Studios has a high performing group.  This took 18 years of getting the right team, culture, values, rules and processes built.  We used to deal with small issues in our meetings like why someone didn’t follow a rule.  Now we can deal with bigger issues like offering our clients more value than the competition.  Our team is excited and energized about the company’s future.  We have a shared fate.  When you have this type of group dynamics it is exciting to come to work everyday.

What groups do you come from?  How are the group dynamics where you work?

Jessica Mullins, Business Assistant:

How long have you been with TSI?

1 year, 9 months

What did you do before you started working at TSI?

Worked in the Carle Clinic Business Office

What do you do at TSI?

Human Resources - Accounting

What do you like best about TSI?

The people.  TSI creates amazing things!

What’s your favorite TSI project?

Rain forest exhibit - Miller Park Zoo

Why?

It really feels like you are in a rain forest.

What’s something your coworkers don’t know about you?

Nope…can’t say.

What’s the favorite part of you day?

Last 15 minutes of the day when I pick up my office OR when my in-box is empty.

Posted by: Myrna Webber, Account Coordinator

With the recent news of a JetBlue flight attendant quitting his job in the most unique way and the media reporting a high average of employees unsatisfied in their jobs, one may wonder if there are any workplaces with a welcoming and friendly environment.  There is in Rantoul, Illinois.  It has been three months since I accepted a position with Taylor Studios and I continue to be amazed at the attitudes in the office and at the fabrication shop.

The atmosphere here is refreshing and it is a great place to work. There are no yelling matches or disgruntled looks and no one plays the blame game.  No one takes themselves too seriously and often laughter can be heard from the conference room.  E-mails are sent company-wide announcing that ice cream is in the freezer and if someone is making a trip to Dunkin’ Donuts you’re typically asked “Need anything”?  Late in the afternoon you can often find the designers throwing a Frisbee outside for a few minutes.  All of this is great but it’s not all fun and play.  Walk through our offices/fab shop and you will see dedicated employees working hard to make TSI the best design and fabrication firm in the industry.

In addition, how many workplaces can boast that they are animal friendly?  Betty’s dog, Inca, is here every day following her around.  You know when Betty is near by the sound of the dog tags clinking together.  If you need to concentrate, shut your door as our resident kitten, Plyboo, is running around.  She has been known to pounce on electrical strips causing  computers to shut down when she hits that on/off button.  Occasionally your computer mouse may disappear as she plays with the cord or she may grab your leg in order to hoist herself into your lap.  Hopefully, when that happens you know she is in the room, otherwise it’s quite a surprise. It’s really nice to have these animals in the office and it only takes a few minutes of petting them to realize that they are enjoying it here, too.

TSI is not fantasy-land and not every day is perfect. There are still deadlines to meet, project delays, and numerous other issues that can be stressful.   However, it is the teamwork, dedication, and attitude of the employees that makes TSI truly unique.

Meet Amanda, Administrative Assistant:

How long have you been with TSI?

Since March 2010

What did you do before you started working at TSI?

I was a graphic specialist and quality control at Bell Sports and also worked at the Flower Shop in Potomac

What do you do at TSI?

Anything my co-workers ask me to!

What do you like best about TSI?

The TSI Staff is great and I love the fact that everyday brings something new & it is always different from the last!

What’s your favorite TSI project?

Hmm…I like the International Wildlife Museum in Tucson, AZ

Why?

Because I think it’s awesome to see the reproductions of the prehistoric animals we created there and also learn about the history because I was born in Yuma.

What’s something your coworkers don’t know about you?

I can play the piano.

What’s the favorite part of you day?

My favorite part of the day is coming home and being greeted by my family with big smiles & dinner!

Jane Skinner, Controller:

How long have you been with TSI?

7 years

What did you do before you started working at TSI?

15 years as Controller for a manufacturing company

What do you do at TSI?

Financial management and department head

What do you like best about TSI?

Our product is easy to get excited about.  We have produced many interesting exhibits and there is a sense of pride sharing them with your family and friends.  I also enjoy the team atmosphere at TSI.  Everyone is cooperative and working toward the same goals.

What’s your favorite TSI project?

Gettysburg cyclorama

Why?

I visited this exhibit last fall and it is very cool.

What’s something your coworkers don’t know about you?

I grew up in a big family - I have 5 sisters and 2 brothers.

What’s the favorite part of you day?

Early morning - I like to think about my day and make plans for what I can accomplish.

Curt Walker, Structural Models Artist

How long have you been with TSI?

9.653 years

What did you do before you started working at TSI?

Operations/Maintenance at Grain Elevator
Cut Trees
Made art

What do you do at TSI?

Build museum exhibits, silly.
No, really I’m involved with most aspects of the fabrication process.

What do you like best about TSI?

Variety of tasks, like-minded folks

What’s your favorite TSI project?

Probably Eli Lilly or the Pegasus or Audubon

Eli Lilly Sculpture

Why?

They’re most closely related to my personal type of work, just refined.  Felt like the type of work I was meant to make.

What’s something your coworkers don’t know about you?

Top Secret

What’s the favorite part of you day?

Depends on the day.

Taylor Studios has an awesome team.  Some of the reasons we function well as a team follow:

• We check our egos at the door.
• We have high integrity and trust each other.
• Everyone wants to produce a high quality product.
• We set goals and objectives.
• Each of us keeps an open mind and accepts criticism and input.
• We are respectful in our communication, yet encourage debate.
• We treat our teammates as trusted advisers.
• We hold each other accountable.

Today, I got an email from Matt Wiley, one of our Graphic Designers.  He was concerned that some of my tweets were not appropriate.  I had posted some silly ones that were probably more appropriate for personal tweeting versus company tweeting.  I often get in a hurry and tweet just to tweet instead of watching the quality of the tweet.  I appreciated his input and made changes.

We are pursuing a very large project.  This week, several of us presented to this potential client.  At the presentation, it was obvious we work well as a team.  After the client asked a question, one of us would start the answer then another would pop in and finish the thought.  It flowed smoothly and we conveyed that we have fun, are passionate about what we do and have an effective team.  I was telling Joe Taylor, the company co-founder, about the opportunity.  He said, “Well if you really want it, why don’t you make them an offer they can’t refuse?”  This morning I threw a brainstorm with Sam, Drew and Kara and we came up with a great idea to present to the client.

Our shop is very busy right now.  We are working overtime and people are on the road.  There are many upcoming installs.  The few weeks before an install can be stressful for project managers.  There always seems to be more details to figure out, more questions and more to dos.  When something goes slightly wrong it is easy to jump on the project manager and say, “Why didn’t you take care of this?”  For example, this week a subcontractor delivered a Great Blue Heron model that was not made to our specifications.  This meant Marc, our Model Shop Lead, had to spend a day fixing the model even though something else had already been scheduled for that day.  Jason noticed that everyone was asking why don’t we hold our subs, clients, vendors, etc. more accountable.  Jason knew this was not the time to add more stress to their plate.  As we often say, he reminded them to offer solutions instead of complaints and criticism.  With that perspective in mind, the team got down to business and came up with solutions.  We’ll look at what we could have done better at the lessons learned meeting we’ll have after the installs are done.

These examples from this week illustrate what good teamwork looks like.   My team rocks!

Tell us about a time when you saw good teamwork.

Tony Taylor, Metal Shop Lead:

How long have you been with TSI?

10 years

What did you do before you started working at TSI?

Industrial welding

What do you do at TSI?

Metals Lead, Safety Coordinator, & Jack of Most Trades

What do you like best about TSI?

The variety of our projects.

What’s your favorite TSI project?

Kenosha Public Museum, Kenosha, WI

Why?

We got lost and drove around rural roads with a giant Dunkleosteus “Dunk” on a trailer asking for directions.

What’s something your coworkers don’t know about you?

I don’t like my hands to smell like food when I’m done eating.

What’s the favorite part of you day?

In the morning, when I wake up our twins and 10:00 at night when I can work on projects.  (Like the ones here)

Mac Singer:

How long have you been with TSI?

A year and a half

What did you do before you started working at TSI?

I was in school at U of I for metals/jewelry and industrial design, during which time I worked in coffee shops and a bicycle shop.

What do you do at TSI?

Metalwork, models…I do a little bit of everything.

What do you like best about TSI?

I like the people and the diversity of work.  Also the joking around is a lot of fun.

What’s your favorite TSI project?

The butterfly at the Metamorphosis toddler garden at Albany Pine Bush

Why?

Because it was very sculptural.

What’s something your coworkers don’t know about you?

I ride an awesome motorcycle! (Well some of them know this…)

What’s the favorite part of you day?

The beginning and the end

Meet Amy:

How long have you been with TSI?

9 1/2 years

What did you do before you started working at TSI?

Freelance art.  I sold paintings (mostly abstract) to galleries, dealers, and interior designers.  I even had a couple posters made.

What do you do at TSI?

Paint - Models, Lifecast Figures, Rocks, Trees, whatever.

What do you like best about TSI?

I like that even on a bad day or when something goes wrong, you’re still talking about how to fix a giant caterpillar or whether the velociraptor looks “too scary.”

What’s your favorite TSI project?

Audubon Insectarium in New Orleans

Why?

Giant colorful cartoon bugs…’nuff said.

What’s something your coworkers don’t know about you?

The very first painting I did was graffiti.  I feel kind of bad about that now.

What’s the favorite part of you day?

6p.m.  By then, I’m usually home with Bob working in my studio on a quilt or some other project and watching The Young & The Restless.