I worked on a multidisciplinary project during my 2012 product development internship with John Deere. The details of the project are confidential, but the general interactions among the team members are not. I was assigned the task of designing a new agricultural equipment system with two other interns, Tyler Brammeier and Matt Hansen. In the beginning, we were all unsure of our roles in the group. We felt the need to compete for a pecking order. I personally felt the need to prove myself--not just to the other interns and managers, but also to myself. During the first couple weeks of uncertainty, competition, and self doubt, I did not come up with very many design ideas that I liked or that the group approved of. A couple weeks later, I grew extremely busy with other projects and was forced to take a less active role in the project. I explained to my group that I needed to forfeit some of my duties, but would continue to support and contribute ideas.
Shortly thereafter, I think my group members recognized that they didn't need to compete with me anymore; I had given up my share of control in the group. I was simply there to offer ideas and support their decisions. Once everyone came to that realization, the teamwork, the cooperation, the comradery, and most importantly, the ideas just seemed to flow like a fountain. We were no longer competing with one another, but encouraging, respecting, listening to, relying on, and praising one another. The last several weeks together were some of the most enjoyable and productive times of my internship. (North Country Equipment, LLC., n.d., from http://www.northcountryequip.com/default.htm) (Camus, A., "Albert Camus Quote," from http://fairbanksirl.com/the-quote-for-the-next-couple-days/albert-camus-quote-february-19th-2012-ce/censored/)
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Compassion