Team Skills Journal

September 24th, Monday 8.30 a.m.

Today was my birthday and my first day of my graduate school. I met my entire team for the very first time!!!My first impression of the different people was that i have a lot to learn from them. It was a little uncomfortable at first to try to know a group of people whom you must talk to, not because you want to do it but because you are in the team. But I liked it.

I am a people person and this was like heaven for me where I get to know so many people and talk to them, listen to their stories, their views, opinions and culture. My team is exactly like that; we have so much diversity within the team, where ocean is from Vietnam, Mike is from China, Waiting is from China, Erlene is from France, Benedetta is from Italy and I am from India.

Our first class was managerial skills. And we get to discuss a topic in our team. One thing I remember from that discussion was that it’s not going to be an easy or smooth ride. Everyone had an opinion about each other already. Our team got divided into 2 teams of three unknowingly, where ocean, Benedetta and Erlene were of similar nature and thinking and on the other side was mike, waiting and me. The prior group is more competitive in decision making, aggressive and strong opinionated. the later group is more calm, composed, and observant and they try to keep everything balanced and in harmony.

In our first discussion I realized that how different ones thinking could be from other. I felt like someone took all the energy from me. To that extent that i wouldn't say anything as I already know that the group with strong opinion would get their way out. So I opted to be quite and listen to the other three. And waiting and mike were quite too. But I wanted them to share their opinion or else I felt like I would not learn as much as I can .To that point where i asked them to speak up. This is when I observed sometimes being competitive and having strong opinion is good. Its better to have an...