To inspire a topic for my blog posts, I usually draw on what's been going on in the news, at the office, or at home. If your house is anything like ours, the Olympics has taken over our TV time, and for that matter, our sleep time. In the last few years, our family has become a hockey family, and I thought it would be fun to come up with similarities between the Men's USA Olympic Hockey Team to a team on a consulting engagement.
- The team is formed based on an individual's expertise. Each member is carefully chosen to play a particular position or role on the team. That person has proven they are an expert at their position.
- The team members don't normally work together. Although members of the team may know of each other, or may have worked together individually, the current team has to prove they are effective.
- The team must be productive immediately. There isn't time to waste. I saw an interview with T.J. Oshie saying the hockey team only practiced together three times before their first Olympic game. That's more "practice" than consulting teams are afforded.
- The team is formed for a temporary assignment. Once the goal of the team is accomplished or time has run out, the team members go their separate ways, hopefully with a gold medal :)
