Welcome again on the Business English Magazine Blog!

Last week we explored how various companies like Zappos win because of great customer service and „living” the values of an organisation. However, at the core of both these concepts lies something else: teamwork. Now we also said having a leader to miss is vital too, but a great leader won’t be „leading” if there are no people following him. Ok, so what is the big deal about teamwork? Not many companies/managers/CEOs acknowledge the importance of their teams and without them there would be no company to lead in the first place.

To best illustrate how teamwork should be properly adopted, there is a story about an unpopular computer company that (once upon a time) had rising debts, falling revenue and was basically on the verge of dissapearing from the market. Can you guess who?… Apple. What?! You might think it’s a joke, but actually in 1997 Apple was not that hot at all. In fact it was struggling to survive. What saved it was the iPod. A revolutionary device that did not exist in that form in a category that was not there yet (portable digital music players). What does it have to do with teamwork? A lot. The ipod was oficially released in 2001, however it was in the design/planning stage since 1997. Because of true teamspirit (mind that Apple was not a company to show off your employee badge to your friends), perseverence and vision, they managed to pull this off. The rest is history…

Read more about the iPod team at: http://www.fastcompany.com/article/how-a-team-at-apple-made-the-ipod-dream-a-reality

Another inspiring team is Google. The company itself needs no introduction as a technology giant and a world dominator in the online search and web applications. When they were launching the Google Apps suite, Google posted on their blog about the importance of teamwork (also check how Google suggests to use their Apps- http://www.fastcompany.com/1614933/five-ways-the-new-google-docs-speeds-up-teamwork).

It is one of the main attributes required at the Silicon Valley Tech giant. If you can’t work in a team, you can’t work at Google. Period. But this rule does not only concern Google. I am sure you value your team as much.

But lets take a step back and look at why teamwork makes such a difference:

1. „More brainpower” – „Two brains are better than one”; solving a problem or coming up with a contingency plan/strategy happens much faster and more effectively in a team.
2. „We are in the same boat” – If you feel pumped to go to work on a given day (let’s hope its everyday!), other co-workers pick up that vibe from you and the energy spreads.
3. „I got your back” – if you have issues, I am here for you. Strong relationships are key in effective teamwork.

Some of the above ideas have been adopted from the article on: „Teamwork at its best” http://www.fastcompany.com/1648449/teamwork-at-its-best

Make sure you foster teamwork at every step of the game, it matters as it lies at the core of all the other things: marketing/sales/accounting/reasearch& development/customer service etc.

Go take one for the team, just like that iPod crew and success will come!

Chris Dargiewicz

USEFUL VOCABULARY:

to take one for the team – „jeden za wszystkich, wszyscy za jednego”; poświęcenie zespołowe

1.  at the core – u podstaw, źródła

2. vital – kluczowy

3.  a big deal – wielka (mi) rzecz

4.  to acknowledge – przyznawać/uznawać

5.  in the first place – od początku

6.  properly – odpowiednio

7.  to adopt – zastosować

8.  once upon a time – pewnego razu

9.  extraordinary – ponadprzeciętne; nadzwyczajne

10.  Silicon Valley – Dolina Krzemowa (region w zachodnich USA słynny z firm technologicznych)

11.  in the first place – w ogóle

12.  debt – dług

13.  to make an extra buck – zarobić dodatkowo; dorobić się na

14.  to encourage – zachęcać

15. revenue – przychód

16.  to be on the verge of – być na granicy…

17.  to struggle – zmagać się; borykać się

18.  market category – kategoria/sektor rynkowy

19.  teamspirit – „duch”, energia zespołowa

20.  an employee badge – plakietka/identyfikator pracowniczy

21.  perseverence – wytrwałość

22.  vision – wizja

23.  to pull sthg off – coś udaje się zrobić

24.  an attribiute – atrybut; cecha

25.  period. – koniec, kropka

26.  to value sthg/somebody – cenić coś lub kogoś

27.  to come up with – wymyślić;  stworzyć

28.  contingency plan/strategy – kryzysowy plan/strategia

29. to be pumped to do sthg – być pełnym entuzjazmu, energii do czegoś

30.  to pick up a vibe – odczuwać atmosferę/energię

31.  to spread – rozsiewać; rozprzestrzeniać

32.  to foster – popierać, sprzyjać

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„What does it take to be a successful leader?„- that question goes through the minds of thousands of CEOs, COOs and other top managers-alike on a daily basis.
Leadership training is a huge chunk of the business industry itself. There are hundreds of books, programs, seminars and other forms of media published by so-called „leadership gurus„, who make a living out of this subject.

image source: http://www.audiomicro.com

See some examples below:
1. „The Little Book of Leadership”
2. „Leadership Training”
3. „Winning with Leadership”

Yet, the answer to the above question is pretty down to earth. To fully grasp the concept, we have to modify the question first: „What would happen if you stepped down from the role of a leader?”

So, as in the title, the right strategy and answer to the second question is „Leave Big shoes to fill”.
What does that mean? Think about Walt Disney, Henry Ford, Lech Wałęsa, or in a non-business-related area Pope John Paul II.
Was it easy to „get into their shoes” and find an equally remarkable leaders? Of course, some say it will never be possible.
That is what you should aim for.

The topic comes around, with the latest news from the leading American technology Apple, as their current CEO Steve Jobs „takes a leave of absence„. All eyes (especially shareholders) are on the future of the technology leader.
Who will take over the helm after such a charistmatic visionary, who managed to get himself fired from his own company to later come back and redefine the music, computing, telephone and digital electronics industry?

Those who met Jobs, defined him as a „control-freak” and perfectionist.
Whether someone stood behind his vision and leadership style, there is no doubt he has charisma and put his heart into building up Apple to the humongous size and an industry leader that redefines how consumers interact with new media and technologies.

It is „no easy feat” to be able to say that after you retire.
Thus, those CEO shoes are BIIIG to fill, right?

If you develop a vision, follow it relentlessly, care and respect your employees, ensure efficient business process management, control sales, marketing, customer relations and finance, you might just be the next „Steve Jobs” in your field.

So go out there and make sure you will be missed.
That is what it takes to be a real Leader.

If you want to learn more about latest Apple’s news on Jobs, listen to the podcast from the latest Bloomberg Businessweek Cover Story.

Chris Dargiewicz

Useful vocabulary:

1.  To go through the mind – przejść przez myśl/myśleć o
2.  CEO (Chief Executive Officer) – Dyrektor Zarządzający
3.  COO (Chief Operating Officer) – V-Ce Dyrektor/Dyrektor Operacyjny
4.  On a daily basis – na porządku dziennym/codziennie
5. Chunk – kawał; pajda
6. So-called – tak zwany; rzekomy
7. Make a living out of – utrzymywać się finansowo poprzez…/życ z…
8. Down to earth – prosty; przyziemny
9. Grasp (an idea/concept) – chwytać;złapać; zrozumieć pomysł/ideę
10. Modify – zmienić; przekształcić; zmodyfikować
11. To step down – zrezygnować; odejść
12. Aim for – dążyć do czegoś
13. To take a leave of absence – wziąść urlop
14. Shareholders – akcjonariusze
15. To take over the helm – przejąć/objąć ster
16. Redefine – przeobrazić; przekształcić
17. Control freak – kontrolująca osoba (w nadmiarze)
18.  Pefectionist – perfekcojnista;
19.  Humongous – ogromny
20. No easy feat – trudne zadanie (wcale nie tak proste)
21. Thus – stąd; więc
22. Go out there – przystąp do działania

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