Three Qualities Essential to Team Building

Dale,
Thank you for the vote of confidence in the Auburn program! After being in classes in other disciplines, I feel that PR students definitely understand the value of productivity and the value of pride in our work, perhaps moreso than some of the other majors here.

I love the way you made an analogy between seeking an employee and seeking a football recruit. It seems fitting for football season, especially since Auburn PR students who are slightly obsessed with football regularly read this blog. But, your point does stand valid. Some parts of our “package” cannot be taught in the classroom, such as the competence, commitment and character. However, I do think that these attributes can be reinforced, which we gain through knowledge of our field, special projects that are actually used (like in our campaigns class or in our PRCA chapter) and active learning of ethics in the workplace. In the workplace, I think that these and other attributes can be refreshed and reinforced through workshops, meetings and refresher courses.

The next to last paragraph about hiring and firing caught my attention. I know that sometimes an organization must release an employee because either mistakes are made or the two just are not meshing, but at the same time, players are often given a second chance because they are young and make immature decisions. I hope that employers recognize this as well. At the same time, I have seen first hand (mostly in the school system where tenure keeps teachers from being released) that making a quick judgment for a job opening can make an organization want to press rewind on the game film and try the play again. But as in a sports game, once the play is made, it is simply a stat in the record book.

I enjoyed this post because it brought a little bit of everything that we, as Auburn students, are going through at this moment. It talks about the programs we are currently taking to help prepare us for what it ahead after graduation, it talks about how our commitment starts at home and how this impacts and has impacted our lives and futures and it talks about football. Three things that are pretty much essential to us…school, family and Auburn football and friends.

I agree that different experiences that people face each day develop and shape their character. Sometimes I think though that someone’s character determines how commited someone is to their responsibilities, duties or activities and vice versa. If someone is commited to something it seems to also reflect their character. I think that both play an equally important role, especially in team work, but that they both describe to some extent the same traits.

I also think that these three qualities are essential for team-building. I think that since we were small children we have been put in situations that require us to work as a group. I do think that there are some people though that definitly work better by themselves than with others.

Like Marie said, we are still learning this process of team building in our feild such as when we are working on group projects and taking on a new campaign in PRCA. I enjoy working with groups and putting our knowledge together collectively to sort through tough situations. I think it was a good point to make that there are not usually second chances in a job. You need to do things right and even beyond par is better. Marie also made a good point when she said that “players are often given a second chance.” I agree that employers may need to recognize this. Especially because we are still learning, not so much immature, but definitely still learning.

The first thing I thought of when I read this post was the recruiting of cross country runners at the college level. I thought of this because I was a cross country runner in high school and I also spent the weekend with a good friend of mine who is an assistant cross country coach at Kennesaw University.

I agree with you a 100 percent on how character is build. Before I ran cross country I was just an ordinary kid that just did what I had to in order to get by. Then I became a pretty dedicated runner. This is when I learned to discipline myself to do my workouts and put in the time to be a great runner. And it paid off. This discipline ran into my other activities such as my academics.

My friend, the assistant coach, was telling me about what they look for when recruiting an athlete and it was right on the lines of what is in the posting. They want an all around good runner and team member. Someone might not be the best runner in the state but if they are dedicated and have a good attitude that will affect the whole team. The best runner in the state could have an awful attitude and dedication but just be a natural and still win races but he/she could bring the team down as a whole.

Once you get to the college level your character and discipline is basically set. A coach or even an employer does not want to take the time to sit down a change a person’s character. One because you don’t know if it will last and two it’s hard to teach and old dog new tricks.

Thank you for that very inspiring and motivating post. As I have said in previous comments, each contributor to marcomblog is helping us immensely by posting such positive and uplifting comments. I completely agree with each statement you made. To be an asset to a company when we graduate, we must have established and cultivated our competence, character and commitment.

Competence, to a degree, we are born with. It can, however, be learned and sharpened. Character, again, comes with us in the beginning although life experiences can enhance and reshape it. Commitment, however, is learned. We learn through our life experiences what we want to be committed to. Whether we are committed to a spouse, a job, or a lifestyle, commitment is vital in a successful life.

We, as Auburn PR seniors, embody each of these characteristics. As you said in your post, we must give much of the credit to the Auburn University Public Relations program. What got us interested and accepted in to the Auburn PR program was learned at home. Our parents, friends and experiences shaped us into people that will thrive in the field of public relations. What taught us to be prepared and confident future employees, however, was the public relations curriculum at Auburn.

Throughout our final semesters of school and into the first years of our careers and beyond, we will continue to learn and grow into the best public relations practitioners we can be. I know I will keep your post in mind while continuing to develop my competence, character and commitment. Thank you again for the uplifting post and the much deserved compliment to the Auburn PR program.

It’s funny to see how after reading the post and all the comments how each blogger who commented took different things from the post. It’s really interesting seeing how the same post was interpreted differently and yet related to each of the bloggers in an important way.

I have yet another way to relate this advice to my life and education. I am a part of a performance group here on campus. Just as an employer looks for specific characteristics and traits for a potential employee so do the judges for auditioning to make the performance group. Likewise, just like with a job, each member must prove themselves on a regular basis and continually grow and improve.

Competence, character, and commitment are traits that are important to observe to better understand a person and therefore understand their ability, work ethic, and overall ability. It’s important to have a combination of all of these traits to be a well-rounded individual. In that way, these same three traits can be used to judge a candidate for a dance team or for president of the United States.

I agree whole-heartedly that the three c’s are instilled in us as children and further developed through various life experiences as we mature. Sports begin to encourage character, competence and commitment for many people in their early childhood. This is a big reason why many parents encourage their children to play sports.

However, it is not until we get older that we are capable of the in-depth personal refelection that gives us the power of true confidence in ourselves. We learn the qualities that will make us great when we are young and add to them as we grow older. Everyone’s additions may be different but they each, in their own way, accomplish the same goal. The goals of life are very similar to the goals within organizations. We all strive to be the best at whatever the particular job may be. Whether it be father, mother, sister, brother or project coordinator, office manager, event supervisor or blog technician, we aim to succeed.

It is important to work well with others. This is not important because in order to succeed in life you must work well with others, it is important because in order to succeed in life you must be able to adapt to and thrive in all situations. Life, whether it be professional or personal, does not always give us a choice so we must do the best with what we have to work with. This will help in establishing yourself as one of the “right people on the bus.”

As for your views of the three C’s, I agree with you completely. These traits will carry you through life in business and in personal matters. What makes a person great is when they are strong in all three categories. A person with great skill can get by with less commitment or character due to the quality of their work, a person with the drive can get by with less skill and someone with good character can get along well with that trait alone. But what I believe we are learning at Auburn is more than just time management and the ability to prioritize - it is personality management.

I attend class with people whose ideas sometimes blow me away. I hope that some of my ideas have that effect on those around me. In most cases, we are a team…we work together on projects and we compete good-naturedly. Our teachers and families have led us to this place…the top of our little mountain, at least at Auburn. I do feel lucky to be a part of Auburn PR, since many other schools don’t even have a PR program. I stumbled upon PR while contemplating a change to marketing…something I couldn’t have done at Ohio State, or Bowling Green - two schools that I might have attended.

In reference to your nod to Notre Dame (and I love Notre Dame), I offer another Knute Rockne saying: “Prayers work best when you have big players.” Let’s hope we’re big enough to make a difference when we hit the pavement after our time here at Auburn.

All this talk about recruiting reminds me of an interview that I had with a friend of mine who used to be a Tigerette for Auburn. Tigerettes are the official hostesses for the Auburn football team. A large part of a Tigerette’s duties requires her to spend a lot of time getting to know the recruit, as well as introducing the potential player to Auburn’s athletic program. However, there is much more that goes into a coach’s decision to recruit a player than just a weekend spent with program representatives. Prior to a campus visit, many hours are spent researching and studying the athlete and his playing abilities as well as his character and commitment off the field.

We discussed how poor recruiting decisions in the office setting often results in a termination of the relationship. Some mistakes are too drastic for a second chance. And perhaps, in some instances, it is better to view a termination as a second chance - a chance to start over somewhere else.

Yet, college athletes don’t always have the chance to start over on a new team, nor do coaches have the time or resources to recruit an unlimited number of backup athletes in case the first ones don’t work out. This is why it is important for both parties to spend the time to assure that the fit is right.

When I first started reading this post, I immediately thought of my mother. How I am building my character and how it really started at home. There is one phrase that struck me that my mother use to and still tells me every other day, seriously, “Act like a lady.” Building a good character is so important to your future and I agree that this Auburn program is building competence, character and commitment.

I agree that sports helped me build all three of these components. Just like Jami, my parents enforced some kind of sport playing in me. By playing sports I learned skills, social behaviors and commitment to my team.

I think though that I have learned more about my character through all of the group projects are professors assign to us. Some skills I have help strengthen others who’s are weak and vice versa. Team buidling is important in every aspect and I think Auburn University has really helped me with my character, competence and commitment to my assignments, others and myself.

I am also appreciative of this post and thanks for the compliments about Auburn’s program. I agree that the building of character begins with him and I am thankful to have had a family that has helped me build in so many ways, but also had allowed me to grow outside of the home. Even though character building starts in the home there are so many other influences such as school and athletics.

I was never involved in a sport growing up, but I did dance my whole life and I feel as if dance teachers are just like coaches. I learned the same social skills and teamwork skills as I would have if I was part of a soccer team. I think my dance teachers expected more out of me than some of my school teachers.

I agree with Jami when she said, “It is not until we get older that we are capable of the in-depth personal refleection that gives us the power of true confidence in ourselves.” I feel lucky to be at a place like Auburn that not only drives students to complete assignments and answer questions on tests, but to build the three C’s. I am not only becoming more knowledgeable, but I am learning team building and other social skills that will be of great importance after I leave college.

It really does go back to the home where it all began. I have a lot to owe to my family and other influential people who always encouraged me to be myself and to never stop learning and growing.

Within our lives we will have tests for each of these “C’s”. For some of us they will come much quicker then we are prepared for. However, the foundation that we build our lives on, faith and family, will be what carries us through each of these challenges and indeed will strengthen each of the C’s.

Those three criteria, competence, character and committment are excellent aspects to consider when recruiting for whatever it may be. When playing high school sports such as soccer, our coach demanded that we show character on and off the field. Committment to anything one does is probably the most important of the three. If one can not be committed to what he or she is doing, then competence and character will lack. We as college students must strive to be the best and show that we are the best. Sometimes, however, being the best isn’t necessarily the person that does the best work, it is the person who is always on top of things and has a good attitude while doing it.

I agree with Mallory on the whole competence issue being born with. Like she said, being able to sharpen your competence level is key. I don’t know if you are necessarily born with character. I feel like character is something that defines who you are. Your character is what people, such as employers, see in you. When all else fails, your character/reputation is still there with you. Commitment is important in everyday life, just not with jobs. You commitment to school, friends, credit card payments, etc., all help show the type of person you can be.

I definitely agree that if I was a recruiter for anything, I would like at these traits as being the determining factors. Being goal-oriented and having a plan in life helps to build these traits. Upon graduation some will be going to work at companies, while other will be pursuing other degrees. Regardless, having these traits and excelling in them will give you a step above the competition.

Thank you for your helpful post. There have been so many inspiring and thoughtful ideas, tips and suggestions coming from Marcom Blog lately. They have been incredibly useful for all PR students at Auburn. This particular post was good because it is something that relates directly to PR majors at Auburn. It shows that your character, personality and the traits you possess will have an impact on your happiness and longevity in the PR world.

Character, commitment and competence are important characteristics to have when looking for a job and maintaining a job. I believe that the PR program at Auburn is doing a great job of preparing each of us for the real world. We are being motivated daily to build character, be committed and competent. We are all striving to succeed in this field, and each “C” is a large factor in our success.

Growing up, you not only learn about the three C’s from sports and other activities you are involved in, but your family. I agree completely that you learn a lot and develop your character from life experiences and the people you are surrounded with. I know my family, their work ethic, values and lifestyle have influenced me in the way I run my life on a daily basis. It also influences the way I interact with others on a personal and professional level. I hope on day that I am as successful and happy as my parents are.

First of all, let me say that I totally agree with you on the competence, character and commitment rules. When I was in high school I was part of a competition cheerleading team. The first couple of years I tried out part of the score came from teacher evaluations. It was part of the score because the cheerleaders represented the school at more than just sporting events.

My junior year in high school a new varsity coach was hired. She was great and motivated us do our best. But, when tryouts came around she through out the teacher evaluation part because there were girls that were really good but did not have a good work ethic. Obviously, some girls who had been on the team didn’t make and other who hadn’t been on the team made it.

The new girls who only made the team because of their competence were lazy and would show up late for practice. They didn’t understand the importance of character and commitment. And, our coach didn’t either. She only wanted the girls who could perform the best, not the ones who represented the school the best.

During this time I realized how important competence, character and commitment are. Being part of a bad example team has helped me be a better person. I know what it takes to be part of team and what others expect of me. Now, I appreciate those people who possess the three Cs a lot more. They are so much better to work with.

Comparing the qualifications for a public relations employee to those of a competitive sports team is a great analogy. I am a very competitive person by nature and I notice that my best work comes from this drive. In choosing any career, I think it is important to evaluate your inner character qualities. A career should be something that you are passionate about and have a drive for it.

It is these qualities, competence, character and commitment, which distinguish a career from a full-time job. Any employer would prefer to recruit someone who views the position as a career accomplishment than as a means to get a pay check.

Like you say, at Auburn we truly have learned these qualities. Being a fairly small major within such a large university has provided us with a very unique education. In our sophomore year, we are introduced to about two-dozen peers whom we have classes with for the rest of our college career. All of the students are open with each other and learn from one another talents. We all strive for perfection and compete against each other. The end result is a class of students enriched not only through education by the teacher but through their peer’s knowledge as well.

I guess what I am trying to say is, to be successful at any job, one must possess these abilities that you have mentioned and I truly believe that being a public relations major at Auburn University has further enhanced those characteristics.

First off I want to thank you for the plug about what Auburn is teaching us as students and adults. I appreciate when others recognize what we are learning here that we will carry on into our future.

Secondly, having played some college basketball I can truly appreciate the need for all three criteria you outlined: Competence, Character and Commitment. Often times people have one or the other but miss the importance and value of having all three.

My experience taught me that competence is first and foremost in getting your name in the market if you know what you are doing you can successfully tackle most things an employer will throw at you. Character will carry you through when dealing with others and it will be beneficial in teamwork situations. Commitment will show your true dedication to getting the job done and prove to your employer you are willing to go the extra mile. One without the other will leave you and your employer short handed.

I obviously can’t claim to have learned this all on my own and I appreciate that you pointed out most of who we are is developed by our parents and people we interact with at a young age. I am certain that the skills my parents taught me will carry over to other aspects of my life particularly my career, as most of it has already.

Having these criteria and understanding how a potential employer might be assessing these qualities when I am interviewing for a job is very beneficial. Realizing that not only do these qualities have to be present but displayed and carried through on the job as well is useful knowledge.

Thanks for the insight into what future employers are looking for and again for reminding us how lucky we all are to be at Auburn and in a place where the 3 C’s are emphasized.

I completely agree with your comments about competence, character and commitment. Even though we are gaining knowledge of our field in the classroom at Auburn, the practices and personal qualities most important to our careers should have been learned long ago. Since kindergarten our teachers, professors and coaches have been giving us the tools for success, but ultimately, it is our decision whether or not to use them and even how to use them.

Think of it this way, I’m sure that Jayson Blair was well-educated. He had to be in order to acquire his positions at the New York Times. Yet, he made some major choices that poorly reflected on his character. Jayson’s professors can’t be blamed for his failures in the business world. Jayson, not his professors, decided to fabricate sources for a story. Now he’s blaming his actions on a mental condition. Whether or not he is in fact manic depressive has little to do with his ethical choices. To me, it just seems like another blame-shifting copout.

Some people have said that you have to first have competence to succeed, but I think that without character the competence is irrelevant. If you are getting ahead by using deviant tactics, the achievement isn’t worthwhile. I would prefer to consider them co-requisites, so to speak.

Like my classmates, I feel privileged to be involved in the program here at Auburn. Although our professors are not responsible for instilling these character qualities, I believe that their individual value systems reinforce what our parents taught us during our adolescent years.

Great stuff Dale,
I just heard Carly Fiorina talk today. She had her own take on the three “Cs”
Capability
Collaboration
Character

Qualities not of team-building but of leadership…

Wow! It is so great to know that business professionals are noticing Auburn’s program and it’s development of it’s students. It is true that Auburn people have incredible determination and commitment, setting them apart from others.

I too believe that traits of productivity begin to take shape in the home. Parents have a direct impact on their children’s lives. However, I believe that character traits are shaped in other places outside the home as well. Interactions and reactions at school, church, sports and other extra-curricular activities influence the person an individual becomes. Character is learned through reactions to challenges, perseverence through failures and humbleness in success.

Commitment is also learned in various places. Even if it is forced commitment (making your child stick it out in football even though he doesn’t get to play alot), the benefit and value of standing by your word is an important lesson for parents to teach children. I feel that the importance of commitment is reinforced in college, especially at Auburn. In our PR classes, we are assigned to many group projects and must make a commitment to finish what we started with enthusiasm and dedication.

I feel confident in saying that Auburn University is developing talented, competent, commited individuals with unbelievable character. It is my pleasure to study under instructors that believe in those values.

This post is so encouraging to college seniors. I have definately wondered if I had what it takes to be hired in the real world. I have worked hard in class and have tried to gain valuable experiences outside of class. The three criteria- competence, character and commitment- are almost a relief to me. It tells me that having values and pushing myself to keep high standards will help me find a job and keep it.

At Auburn, we have learned to be well-rounded students. We take classes in business, communications, journalism and PR. We are required to do an internship in our field. The program is structured to provide graduates with competence. That is obviously the most important quality in a applicant. The employer has to know that he or she can perform.

But performance alone is not enough. Character and commitment play big roles as well. A new recruit must be teachable, socialable and willing to work hard for the good of the company. It is an internal drive that makes them a great employee.

I have had the opportunity to work in teams both in sports and in class. I think it is obvious when a team member lacks even one of these three C’s. It hurts the whole team if a member isn’t willing to give 100% or does not take constructive criticism well. You are right on the money comparing this to sports. A player might be the most talented receiver on the football team, but if he can’t work with the coaching staff, the quarterback or the other receivers then he shouldn’t play. It’s good to know that employers are looking at the whole package, not just the components.