How can you create a collaborative logistics team?

Team building starts by clearly defining the scope and goal of the team members. The critical factor should be the value in monetary terms is one bringing to the project or team. The fundamental pillars for collaboration in a logistic SaaS team - Diverse Skillset - Detailed WBS with Schedules - Defining Scope for Sprints - Stakeholder communication and feedback Collaboration for Solution Sales - Collect relevant information to define the problem - Define the stakeholders based on departments needed - Add a dependency list - Check through meetings - Define incentives for faster turnaround Incentives is a great motivating factor and it can be as simple as your contribution will bring X revenue to your company.

Common goals are important and that must be outside in perspective. The customer is who pays for the product so every goal must ensure that alignment and thought processes while taking the decisions. Goals have to be measurable since what we say, "what can be measured, can be improved 😄"

In Asian's context: traditional hierarchy, seniors usually right, follow the crowd.. the common goals are not usually communicated well. As a new commer in a team, we are usually copy/follow others, no on-boarding. As a team leader, we used to assume the new commer has to agree to the common goals event it is not written down.

One thing I have found useful is to first set the common goals. Then you need to align the different teams to those goals, everyone needs to understand how they contribute to those goals. Recently I started using the FAST goals approach which stands for Frequently Discussed, Ambitious, Specific, and Transparent goals.

Foster open and transparent communication among team members to encourage information sharing, idea exchange, and a sense of collective purpose. Establish common goals and objectives for the logistics team, aligning individual responsibilities with the overall mission to promote collaboration and a sense of shared success. Encourage cross-training among team members to enhance skill sets, promote flexibility, and enable a better understanding of each other's roles within the logistics process. Recognize and reward collaborative efforts, acknowledging individual contributions to the team's success, fostering motivation, and strengthening the sense of camaraderie within the logistics team.

Technology is important to improve decisions in companies, but even more important is technology literacy. Most of the time people inside companies have great technology, but they prefer to rely on their spreadsheets since they do not know how to use new technologies, or because they don't trust the results that they are getting. To Leverage technology we need to help people improve their knowledge around how to use, a god option is small online courses

In logistics management, technology is pivotal for the success of the operation. Nonetheless, implementing the right technology with needed tools must be aligned with the business needs followed by proper testing and training of the team members to ensure proper collaboration and achieve the needed results.

As a leader, I often interact with almost all the departments. It all starts with excel where we create Work Break Down structure. While Doing a task we might have queries and this is where 'Google Chat Space's or 'Slack' comes into play. For non-tech allocation of work and tracking the same 'trello' is useful. Anylogic project management softwares are particularly helpful. For a big decision the simulations in Anylogic helps in taking important decisions Timely meetings on Zoom or Google meet are obviously important for evaluating the project and it is where we generally take a verbal consent for the deliverables in the next sprint

Generally, it is true when saying technology can help, however, it is depends on context. I have been in many 15-20 years companies who all the decision go through 1 leader, in that case, technology is just a kind of decoration, value are not realized. Leaders must aware about the powerful of technology and enable it otherwise it is none sense.

I have found this helpful in many of my initiatives in supply chain since technology has provided a single source of truth with transparency. And it's a must to map the journey of a happy customer 😄

everyone at one point or another will get to a point that it is called operational blindness. that means, that you can not see your own mistakes, or that you can not understand other members' perspectives. therefore, it is always important to keep an open approach to feedback. all members of a team need to understand that feedback helps to improve teams, by closing gaps between what we do, and what we need.

My point of view may different from Western-style colleagues but Feedback is not the popular practice in Asian's context. We just open sharing after dringking, that's why beer/alcohol consumption in country like Vietnam, China.. are huge.

Taking opportunities how to give and receive feedback. Identify with everyone what effective and less effective feedback looks like. Make it acceptable to make a few mistakes.

As said feedback is an essential element for good communication . At the end of the day , feedback should be taken up positively to nurture the idea, not negatively to destroy the roots . So feedback should be used as a constructive element to grow further and should be encouraged positively. This way when we open to the feedback we are open to growth.

When we talk about diversity it´s also important to talk about equity and inclusion. That's a good way to work individual bias and promote different perspectives sights. Diversity teams are likely to be high performers.

Creating a collaborative logistics team is an ongoing effort that requires commitment, active participation, and a focus on shared goals. By nurturing an environment of trust, respect, and open communication, you can build a highly effective logistics team that thrives on collaboration.

Our ability to reach unity in diversity will be the beauty and the test of our civilization,by Mahatma Gandhi. Diversity is a beauty & key factor while considering collaboration in a team ,may it be a logistics team or any other team .The uniqueness of each individual that contributes to the ideas of the organisational goal, or the diversification of ideas for a common goal set aside is the factor. And one needs to be open & tolerant to take in different opinions and take it for construction. This way each team member will feel valued and satisfied.

Individuals seek more than just financial rewards; they also crave recognition and a sense of significance. It's essential for them to perceive their contributions as valuable. When one comprehends the significance of their role within a larger context (in the supply chain and in the organization), it fosters a deeper connection with the team and imbues their actions with purpose. Thus, rewards encompass more than material gain; they provide people with a sense of direction and meaning (purpose).

From my perspective, embracing diversity in a collaborative logistics team enriches its dynamics and brings about a wider range of innovative ideas and solutions. However, it's crucial to ensure that this diversity is accompanied by an inclusive environment where everyone's contributions are valued. This fosters creativity, responsibility, and a smoother workflow by allowing each team member to feel empowered and respected, leading to a harmonious and productive workplace.

Now this reminds me of my work @ JK TYRE, where we were nurtured for future managerial roles and for this we were trained and the last stage was Paper Presentation of your ideas and for this we need to form a cross functional team with other departments and each member of the so formed team put forth their respective ideas of their field, likewise ultimately contributing to the one common IDEA on the Presentation . At the end the best team idea is rewarded & recognised. By this one get the opportunity to work and share the ideas with different departments and also an insight of the team members work , thereby knowing the whole process of the work and this helps in future work collaboration and for better understanding and planning

I would add, Adapt and Evolve. You must remain flexible and willing to adapt to changes in the industry, technology, and market conditions. Continuously seek ways to improve processes and enhance collaboration within the team.

Equal treatment of all team members, listen to your feeling and share it where possible, give space to other team members to express them self, invite each one for a coffee once at least.... group celebration of achievements helps too.

To build an even stronger team, it is crucial to not only incorporate Mr. Lencioni's ideas from "The Ideal Team Player," but also consider a few additional strategies. By focusing on clear communication, fostering diversity and inclusion, and promoting continuous learning, the team can reach new levels of success.

Cross-functional training can also help inspire the team. There are so many different components in Logistics. Most people would be curious about another division. Assigning a team member a project that is outside their division and pairing them with strong team members is a great way to master a new logistics skill. It also can add to their expertise which improves the team and helps their career.