Team Survey Compilation

[Hsiu Chang]

I will also post in Google Doc

1. Name, Contact Info, City, Area of Expertise (aka the skill you'll bring to the table: marketing, wanting to take a leadership role, conflict mediation, social media, project managment etc).

Noor Rahman, noorj...@gmail.com, 614.218.8997, ·       Expertise: Strengths finder- top strenghts: strategist, input, individualizer, learner, achiever. I'm good at writing/editing, and I'm decent and creating graphics, ie. organizing information. I'm also generally good at conflict resolution. I have an eye for aesthetics, I have a personal website that features my photography and leadership: www.noorjahanrahman.com   Joelle Gamble, (909) 268-2870/@joelle_gamble, New York City, ·       project management/strategic planning   Robert Avakian 908-675-5907 RTAv...@gmail.com ·       Systems and Structure Design Project Management   Alex Mazin, 774-239-2200, ama...@me.com, New York, NY ·       AoE: operations, strategy, start up ventures   Konrad Kutter Cell: 703-772-5304 Email: Kutter...@gmail.com City: Philadelphia ·       Skill: I enjoy the responsibilities of a leadership role, I am currently the chapter president for Civil Engineers at my University. I am also an engineering ambassador which has a lot of marketing and selling mixed in!   Hsiu Chang, 603-305-1846, s...@shosho.biz, Boston. ·       I can do project management and marketing.   Stephanie Austin stephlo...@gmail.com, 510-415-4734  1.     Expertise: Marketing, Creative, Presentations, social media

2. Please list general meeting times/days that you'd be available for consistent weekly meetings. (include time zone). Please give a suggestion as to the best way to arrange meetings. (ex: Doodle, or someone just picks a time etc).

·       Doodle, Generally available in the evenings, but I'm a dancer and attend practices on some days of the week, they vary. ·       Mondays after 6pm EST and Sundays before 9pm EST Someone should just pick the time. ·       Flexible Schedule if given notice. Currently Unavailable Friday+ Saturday Evenings (After 5PM EST) All I personally need is for someone to pick a time and tell me with enough notice that I can move commitments around. A set weekly time (or two) would be ideal. I will be available and attend punctually. As many of us missed the first call, a contact list should be made and given to each of us so we can inform each other and remind each other. ·       Tuesday or Wednesday after 4pm EST is best. Doodle was convenient ·       Mon-Friday: Anytime after 6pm Weekends: could meet at anytime ·       Someone just pick a time ·       Available weekends after 3pm (WEST COAST) Available weekdays after 5:30pm (WEST COAST) I say we pick a time on the weekend and if someone can't make it, they have to say so within 24 hours of the meeting time being picked.

3. How do you communicate best in a team? Are you quiet and be prefer to do research or are you a vocal participate and prefer leading conversations? etc...

THE order for the REST OF ANSWERS HAS BEEN SCRAMBLED. ·       I work well in conversation. ·       I do best when: - there is an agenda - I feel that no one person is dominating the conversation - I will speak up ·       Mondays after 6pm EST and Sundays before 9pm EST Someone should just pick the time. ·       I prefer leading conversations and feel comfortable being vocal. As a consultant one of my tasks is project management and presenting ·       I think there is a difference between being vocal and leading conversations. I prefer to be vocal but I do not necessarily have to lead the conversation. In fact, my facilitation style necessitates talking less than the most vocal individuals. ·       Email, though I can participate in conference calls if I have the schedule availability. ·       I am a vocal participant, who enjoys motivating those around me! I am also very organized and neat.

4. If there is a disagreement in the group, what is your preferred method of conflict resolution? Majority vote? Designate a leader? What if there is a tie?

·       Majority vote is best, in the case of a tie, I think we should designate a tie-breaker. Voters have to make a choice within the given time frame or they forfeit their vote. ·       I dislike the voting method in small groups. I think it pits one group against another. It's easier if there is a leader who can provide as close to a common ground way forward as possible. ·       In a scenario where there is a disagreement within the group I feel it is necessary for both parties to present their argument in a professional manner. I do not believe we should have a designated leader/dictatorship. Seeing that we have 7 people in the group, it would not be possible to have a tie. ·       Majority vote and tie breaker by the leader ·       Come up with 3 resolutions for the issue and then vote on the best decision. If I ever did not agree and the group decides to vote a certain way, I would stand by the group’s decision all the way to the end because I am a team player! ·       Either a leader who can act as a judge or a clear policy (Standard Operating Procedures)... either of which always needs to be consistent, even if not fair. ·       - Majority Vote - I prefer to have a "session leader" and "meeting minutes taker" at each meeting, and that these roles rotate at each meeting.

5. What are the top three things required for this team to function in a stress-free, effective and considerate way?

1. Clear task assignments (people need to know what they're responsible for, and team members need to hold each other accountable for assigned tasks) 2. Leaders in assigned areas (we need to decide who takes the responsibility to either delegate or ensure completion of tasks in their area. i.e., a communication manager makes sure people are on top of email responses, or at least monitors/tracks.ie., a content manager ensures people are contributing research, etc.) 3. Clear goals (we need a shared vision of what we are trying to achieve, and we need that vision to have very easily measurable benchmarks)     1. Communication is vital to the success of a team. 2. Everyone should be held accountable for their tasks and roles. This includes admitting when you don't feel comfortable with a task. 3. Teamwork is crucial to the success of a team. I believe tasks should be accomplished in pairs when possible.     1) An organized and consistent set of expectations for communication 2) Honesty and openness of opinion 3) Having clearly defined goals and what constitutes reaching these goals--what constitutes success and what is failure     Full knowledge of what the expectations there are of us: We need to know what we have ahead of us, what our goals are, deadlines for them, and a quality standard for our work. Understanding of how we are supposed to function within the group: Perhaps not super well defined roles, but we could be given specific tasks which suit our abilities (we still haven't really met and don't know each other’s' abilities and limitations - so division of labor is a bit early). The most important: HUMILITY: for when we don't know how to do something and need the help of our teammates / others to achieve a task.     Equal participation, Meeting set deadlines, Commitment to common goals     COMMUNICATION Honesty Hard Work     1. Everyone agree that there is a set amount of time for airing his and her opinion 2. Address the issue, not the person 3. Ultimately, group decides on what to do.

6. What's a valid strategy for email communication? ex: You must respond to an email within (24? 48?) hours, otherwise you lose the ability to contribute to the discussion. What about a strategy for in person communication? ex: Only stay on a topic for 20 minutes? Make sure everyone has the chance to speak and be respectful if one person is unfairly dominating the conversation?

·       24 hour deadline. Just ask for confirmation from the group to move on, if a conversation is wrapping up. If someone is dominating, the facilitator should ask that person if they think their issue needs to be sorted out immediately or if it can be held for a later time. ·       Google Plus seems to have some great resources for communication. If a team member had a history of not adding to the conversation, then he or she might have a warned or reminded that they'd at participate! I think not allowing someone to participate will only further push them away from any work they would do for the group. ·       We all need to contribute; but if we are forced to contribute ANYTHNG we may wind up with more quantity than quality. ·       Must respond to email within 24 hours. Only stay on topic for 10 minutes at once. ·       I believe you should have a 24 hour window to respond to emails. No punishment is necessary if someone does not respond unless it begins to become a habit from one individual. I believe no meeting should be longer than 1 hour. For example, if we have three topics to discuss then each topic should have 20 minutes. If we have 6 topics to discuss, each topic should have 10 minutes for discussion. No meeting should run longer than 1 hour at a time. ·       Respond w/ in 24 hrs, unless it says otherwise in the subject line. Move quickly during in person communication at the Institute in NY. Time is very very very limited. Done is better than perfect. ·       Maximum 30 minute phone calls. A time-keeper to remind everyone of the time, and keep conversation on track. Openness to criticism - team members should feel free to remind others if they are dominating conversation, or are not being precise. ·       Google Plus seems to have some great resources for communication. If a team member had a history of not adding to the conversation, then he or she might have a warned or reminded that they'd at participate! I think not allowing someone to participate will only further push them away from any work they would do for the group.

7. What is your personal goal/motivation for doing StartingBloc? Why are you here and what do you want to get out of this experience?

·       I am joining starting bloc to connect with the most positive, capable, and productively/ compassionately thoughtful type of people who I have come across: Social Entrepreneurs. I want to help fellows accomplish their goals, and I want to be generally involved and connected to this powerful resource of people as I go through my own ventures. ·       I wanted to change career and start a social enterprise. ·       I want to build meaningful professional relationships, and develop business/leadership skills. ·       My main goals for joining starting bloc are for the network and also becoming involved and a part of an entrepreneurial community. I enjoy being surrounding by motivated individuals who strive to achieve goals ·       Goal: meaningful connections, completing a project I can be proud of, learning ·       I am a life learner. I want to better myself every chance I get and meet as many people to see how they have tackled the obstacles of life. I want to learn about entrepreneurship, hear from people's experiences and become the great leader I aspire to be. I also want to add all of the experiences I have had in my life, in hope they can help someone else! ·       I honestly just want to learn. I do not have a strong background in social innovation.

8. What is your hope for our team and for each team member?

·       That we learn from each other and inspire each other to be the best and continue this culture of growth and support after the institute. ·       Strong Communication and Honesty (if you cannot make it be honest, excuses never convey the same message as honesty) ·       The goal for the team should be to help one another develop necessary skillets for future business success and develop synergies amongst one another. Help one another leverage our strengths and work on our weaknesses. ·       I am hoping to learn from this talented pool of people about what kind of business to start. ·       I hope that in the process of our team meeting each other, we become more aware of our own personal strengths and limitations, and through this introspection as a group, each of us may identify life-long strategies to make ourselves more effective individuals. ·       I want us to win the social innovation challenge, and become friends in the process of this challenge. ·       I'm not sure what this question is getting at. I hope that we learn about the different working styles and goals that our team encompasses. I also hope we win :)

9. So I don't have to upgrade this survey, I'm going to ask the last questions all at once. 1. What feeling do you want to have when you walk away from the Institute? 2. How would your rank the importance of 1) The Project and 2) Networking/Friendships made during the institute 3. What is the MISSION of our team? 4. Team name/slogan suggestion? (Who are we? What words will we rally behind?) 5. Additional thoughts?

1. Accomplished, and inspired to act on the goals/vision I develop during institute. 2. Networking/Friendship is first, the project is second. 3. The mission of our team is to learn each other's strengths, capitalize on them, and produce a social innovation that reflects the best in each of us individually, and collectively. 4. Team MJ, he was the ultimate innovator, and risk-taker of music. 5. nope.

 

1-A feeling of accomplishment and curiosity to further understand the topics I have encountered 2- 1-Networking 2-Project 3-What does this question mean? Maybe I am new to this but it is difficult to define our mission when I don't know what we're supposed to be doing. 4-Same issue as with #3. I don't know what this case competition is supposed to look like and what we're working on so I don't know how to answer this question. 5-Is there a way that someone could share past documents? I really just don't understand what we are supposed to be doing in this group. All of the emails from SB having been vague and assume prior knowledge of the space from the reader.

 

1. Business idea 2. Network is more important 3. Mission is to do the best case study we can. If we given it our all, it does not matter if we win or not. 4. The Sycopating Innovators

 

1: When I walk away from the institute I want to be motivated, have learned new entrepreneurial skills, know young motivated individuals who care about social impact, and leave with the possibility of working with these people on future projects. 2: Networking/ Friendships are the goal- The Project is one of the means to that goal. 3. We haven't even met each other... but If the rest of our team also prioritizes Networking/ Friendship over The Project- for the project's sake, perhaps the mission of our team and the goal of our project should be to better facilitate and perpetuate the Networking experience of us within our SB class as we go through the institute, and within the SB community after we finish. 4. Team identities will help us categorize and remember individuals when we get to the Institute. A name which stands out and is memorable- It doesn't need to be a mantra or terribly witty- just way different than the others (and not particularly embarrassing) I honestly would be fine with our team being anything odd or obscure: "The Penguin Astronauts", whose mantra is "We Eat Waffles". 5: I'd like to meet up in person with people before the institute, and would like to stay connected well after!

 

1. I want to feel motivated that I can do anything I put my mind too! I also want to have the confidence in using all of the resources I have gained from StartingBloc! 2. 1. Friendships, Fellowship 2. Project 3. Our mission is to come up with the best project through strong communication and working together. I hope we bond as a team and blow the competition out of the water! 4. Motivators 5. Thank you for making this survey! Great Communication and Feedback tool!

 

1. I would like to feel that joining StartingBloc will be beneficial for my future career goals and also to help others achieve their goals. Develop contacts and strong business relationships. 2. The network/relationship and friendships to me are the most important part of the program. 3. The mission of our team is to succeed through teamwork and communication. To solve all problems and tasks that are presented to us through a strategic, entrepreneurial approach. 4. Since this is a team oriented network, I feel we should rally behind works such as synergy, innovation and entrepreneurship. For example Synergistic Innovation or Ennovation (entrepreneurial innovation) 5. I think survey monkey is a strong tool to aggregate everyone thoughts together.

 

1. Connections, inspiration, pride in achieving the goals, meaningful experiences to take with me and share 2. I'm very project oriented and want to complete it. With that said, I want to enjoy the social side and love networking, so I hope to find a balance. I think the balance can be achieved if the team is on the same page. I'd rather do more work before the institute than struggle at the last minute when we could be doing happy hours in NY. 3. Mission: We will approach the Project and the Institute with the aim of executing a kickass project, developing long-lasting friendships, fostering a culture of growth, learning and respect as well as inspiring each other to change the world. 4. Team Name? Random ideas: "Dream Team" "Team Charter -- haha a nautical theme... like charter a path" "Buzz Word" (making a play on people naming their teams Synergy etc). "ICU" (Innovate, Create, Unite. Also play on I See You), 'Team At NYC13Thoughts" <-- that would be funny if we actually create a twitter @NYC13Thoughts (or something) that we'd start tweeting as soon as we made our team charter. That way we'd be able to grow a community before we even got to NYC that we could use if we need to unleash a market validation survey or something. As for words to rally behind, how about "Each Moment Counts" or "Learn, Make, Do" or "We won't get Social Security but we do get Social Enterprise!" ;) Final thoughts: - Done is better than perfect - Whoever is doing the minutes should post them that same day. - Be respectful of deadlines - Encourage our strengths and inspire learning - Win with honor and overachieve with dignity - Create an executable plan, focused on the clients, that we can all be proud of - Place the success of our work over individual success (ex: be committed to the best idea for the group, not the idea you came up with). - Let's Rock!