Corporate Jenga: Building and Rebuilding Teams

Have you ever played Jenga? Jenga is a strategy game using 54 wooden blocks built into a tower. You take pieces from the tower, slowly and carefully, and place them on the top of the tower. This creates an incredibly unstable tower after a time, each person struggling to keep the tower upright, and not let it come crashing down. When it does come tumbling down, as it always does, it is usually greeted with squeals of laughter and good-natured teasing.

Jenga Moves

It’s all fun and games until we apply this to actual team-leading. If you’ve ever been on a team in corporate America, you’ve been subject to Corporate Jenga. Whether it’s a project team, a delivery team, or even a sales team, every year brings new team members, new management, and new goals. It almost feels like whack-a-mole when looking for that utopia: a stable environment.

Just like in Jenga, where a misplaced piece can lead to a collapse, a misaligned or reconfigured team can disrupt the flow of innovation. It’s about finding the delicate balance between stability and flexibility. Leaders recognize that some pieces (team members) may need to be shifted or replaced to keep the structure resilient and responsive to the industry’s seismic shifts. Likewise, there is a shift in the team dynamic when that piece is removed. This takes time for the other team members to absorb the dynamic changes.

A Disruptive Game

Much like the unpredictability of pulling a block from a Jenga tower, technological disruptions can come from unexpected sources. Leaders must foster an environment that encourages open communication and quick decision-making. The ability to swiftly rebuild after a ‘block’ is pulled is crucial. Teams embracing change as a natural part of their journey are better equipped to navigate disruptions. This ensures that the tower (team dynamics) remain standing tall.

What else can the impacted team do? Make the new member welcome. Create some introductory tradition that helps keep continuity within the team dynamic. If someone leaves, do the same thing. Talk with each other about the changes that will need to happen and how you can, as a group, adapt to them. Leaders need to foster this open communication in order to keep the team vibrant and engaged. Falling into despair will only lower your team’s morale and undermine solid growth.

Finding Resilience Amidst the Jenga Moves

You can find resilience even in a world of corporate Jenga. As our labor force and economy continue to change, it’s important to find that path of perseverance in your leadership style, and encourage others to find their own fortitude. You are the key to creating consistency and strength in your teams.

And, if you’re looking to figure out your leadership strategy, let’s talk. Coaching and support are always important in times of change. Whether it’s company change, job change, or goal change, we can create a strategy to help you keep your vision and positive attitude. Click this link to setup a Clarity session with me, and let’s get you soaring!