Working in a team versus sitting seperately

[brautie]

Hi

My department currently has an admin team ie. group of around 5 admin people who sit together and service an entire department. But the Big Bosses who think they know best now want to split the team and make them sit individually with an allocated department. Our thoughts are that they will need to hire more people because more work can actually be done by fewer people when they are sitting as a group - any comments on this. The Admin team desperately want to stay together for a number of reasons ie. work can be shared when one person is swamped another can see and help, it provides more cover when people are sick/away, team moral issues etc. - Please anybody got some good points to motivate us staying as a team ? HELP

[superninjaadmin]

Hi Brautie,

Strength is in numbers.  With that said, I suggest you and all of the five admins (together as a group) ask to meet with the big bosses to speak you concerns.  If a meeting with all the bosses is not possible, write a letter to all the bosses with everyone in your admin group signing it.  In the meeting or the letter have a list prepared with all the pros and cons for keeping the admin group together, and another list pros and cons in separating the group.  

Ask the bosses what the reasons are they want to separate you?  It's obvious that there is a lot of efficiency with a group set up like yours is now.  

Talking with them and voicing your concerns is worth a try, anyway.  Good luck!

SNA

[beaintheuk]

Team work is always more efficient.  When I go on a course for Team work they make us do some tests and it's always to prove the same: team work is more efficient.
I hope you can stick together.  Just write down all the pros and cons and get a delegate from your group to express your views to the manager.
Hope it works out
Bea

[msmarieh]

I find this conversation fascinating. I personally hate the team admin structure. I prefer to work one on one with my boss and get to develop a strong relationship with that person as an individual. I dislike having someone else be responsible for salary and performance reviews and otherwise overseeing my work.

That said, however I am a big fan of cross training and providing support across departments. Anyone can step in and provide support at any time.

I would spell out the pros and cons of each method before I made any decisions as to which was best for our company. Go in with an open mind and try not to let the (but we've always done it that way feelings) get in the way.

Marie

[andream]

Dear Brautie,

Why not create the Strength in numbers anology for bossie? Write down situations where working as a team has been helpful, not to the admins in question, but to the company itself.  Be clear, be concise and as hard as it is, don't approach this presentation from YOUR perspective, but from the company perspective. Define your team, list it's strenghs, weakness and where you see dilution of in place processes ocurring when and if the team is split up.  

And determine what is pullig bossie's chain on this one.  Is it that those you support feel the need to have their egos fed by have their own Personal Assistant or is this a valid request because they don't see the situation (the team approach) the same way you do?

Keep us informed on this one, we'd be happy to help!

Andrea

[mlm668]

I am with Ms. Marie in that I prefer a one on one approach.  However, since I am the only admin per se in an office of 13, my situation is bit different.

I do have a question though - why would sitting separately split up the team?  Aren't we all taught to ask for help when we need it and to offer help when things are slow?  You don't have to sit as a group to do this.  And it is possible that your comradrie (sp?) looks like to much socializing to your bosses.



Michelle