GUEST COMMENT: My Masters in Finance at LBS has involved climbing a 13m pole in the rain
I am halfway up the 13-metre high pole, with each new step a mental drain. The sun has given way to more drizzle yet again. Such is British weather: a tempestuous child. I am at an offsite location with my London Business School (LBS) mates and we are here to participate in puzzles and high-rope challenges, so we can become a better team.
The cold wind brushes against my cheeks as I gaze upwards and hear Ricardo, my Brazilian-born classmate, encourage me to reach the zenith with gusto. Down below, my other friends voice their support. Ricardo is on a small platform barely big enough for one person. I finally reach the top and catch my breath, but we must make room for two other people, even as we balance ourselves precariously.
Trust thy teammate
Out of our comfort zone and in unfamiliar circumstances, our exercise becomes a lesson in trust and communication. I find these activities useful. Some of them are like children's games, while others are novel and complex. Although the event was fun and thrilling, my biggest takeaway was a better understanding of my Masters in Finance classmates.
Just three weeks into the course, I know who encourages people when the going gets tough. I know who volunteers readily when the circumstances do not look pretty, and who exhibits strategic thinking when there is incomplete information. An important part of team building-exercises is participants' reflection and discussion about the activity, how they approached the situation, and possible points of learning.
From my observation, good teams comprise of people who will always consider another member's ideas. This may not seem feasible, or it may even sound silly, but such a group will show strong dynamics because its members are receptive and willing to listen to what everybody has to say and contribute. In other words, nobody tries to be a know-it-all.
We gel well
My academic group has been gelling well so far. There are six of us: a British investment banker, an Indian corporate banking relationship manager, an Australian fund analyst, a French structured finance banker, a Chinese private equity executive, and myself, a former finance journalist from Singapore. Working on teams can be rewarding, but the downsides can be discouraging. There are examples of high-powered corporate teams that disagree on strategy and solutions.
The ride may get choppy in the next few months as case studies and projects push us to the limit. Many of us will want to make it work. We will listen attentively and try to clear up any confusion before moving on. At the end of the day, it is all about compromise and understanding the priorities and motivations of each team member. The course work is important, no doubt, but I do hope the friendships forged will last a lifetime. For me, at least, that is gold.
