Group Dynamics - What works and what doesn't!

Not so long ago, a group of highly sought-after 27-old somethings left their lucrative jobs with an established firm to pursue a dream. They gave up a run-of-the-mill job to create something of their own, a career they believed in and to work for themselves. True to the saying, their actions showed "People don't leave companies -- they leave leaders." But there was a slight difference. What do you do when leaders leave? The leader left and the followers tagged behind. A tiny ripple effect was in order!

The leader had a dream, a vision. A dream of making a quick buck. There was a high demand for their skills in the market. The entrepreneurship bug bit them..the greed to capitalize on it marred the strategizing process. This was soon to be a dream come true story of one tiny cohesive group lead by an able leader that overcame all the odds to pursue their vision together. The perfect script for a successful startup firm with all the essential ingredients - passion, freedom, millionaires overnight was ready. Or so it seemed. Until the story turned sour...The startup plans were shelved for lack of a VC and they joined another organization as a "group" ofcourse! Needless to emphasize, you become a mini organization when you go as a group and the voice is expected to be "one" - that of your leader.
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Transitions are never easy. Neither was this one. Too many odds, too little time, too many convincing sessions, too many sacrifices and in the heart of hearts you know you are rejecting good advice but you still do it. This was one such thing. There is no growth without taking risks after all. It was all hunky dory. The group seemed stronger than ever atleast superficially....when trouble began. Personal interests took precedence over groups' vision. When there is no personal money involved, there can never be true commitment if there is no passion. Passion for money is not passion for work. (So long my shirt is not out there to dry.. I will never work too hard ... thats THE fact.) The killer earthquake (easy 9-5 job from competitors) struck once, twice luring everyone...some quit! For some the journey is on..

But there are others who truly believed in that dream that are holding on to it..someday may be they will succeed. They realize one thing ..with great power comes great responsibility. There is only one way to go now - UP and the determination to make it work!

Some lessons to learn ..

1. Too many voices leads to noise.
2. A written commitment is always better than high flinging statements in a cozy restaurant over a sumptuous dinner.
3. If you've chosen a leader, you've got to believe in his mistakes as much as in his successes. It takes a lot to stand by in failures than clap hands and flash smiles during success stories.
4. It is not just your leader's vision, it is yours as well.
5. Attitude - getting the right kind of people with the right attitude is detrimental.
6. Delegation and Initiative - It is team work.
7. Transparency - This is very very important. Any DECISION taken has to be one after a collective consensus of all involved.
8. Cohesiveness - depends on a number of factors ranging from the size of the groups to peer pressures to personal expectations. But this is one important thing that holds a group together. If you lack the personal chemistry amongst yourselves, there is a lil likelihood of success.
9. Self Motivation - A leader can only motivate so much in realizing that dream. You got to believe in it yourself to be self motivated.

On a closing note,
Girte hain sheh-sawar hi maidain-e-jung main,.
Woh tifl kya giraingay jo ghutno ke bal chalain !!!

"Ideas are capital. The rest is just money."