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Interview with Ms. Edie Alberts, Ph.D.,
Human Resources Specialist and Team-Building Consultant
with Lambdex International
Interviewer: Mr. Frank Telos,
Reporter for the World Science Globe,
Internet News Corporation.
Mr. Telos: Good evening, Dr. Alberts. Or is it morning where you are?
Dr. Alberts: It's around midnight here in Adelaide, Australia, Frank, but that's okay.
I just got in and I'm all revved up from the trip, so, I'm looking forward to talking with you.
Mr. T: Thank you again for taking the time. May I begin by asking you how you became
a Team-Building Consultant?
Dr. A: I was a teacher, a professor, actually. A lot of my friends loved the pace of
college life - but not me. I became itchy and wanted to get out into the world. For me, consulting is perfect. I like
listening to people, I like solving problems, and I love traveling. Consulting allows me to do all of those things.
Mr. T: And you help scientists form teams?
Dr. A: That's right. My background is in chemistry and psychology. I combine all of
my strengths to help groups of scientists become productive teams.
Mr. T: Teams are big business nowadays. Sports teams. Computer teams. Company teams.
Medical teams. How do teams work in the science fields?
Dr. A: The situation that needs analyzed is like a puzzle. Each scientist offers a
different piece to the whole puzzle—crisis management, radiation, life support. The entire team puts the puzzle's pieces
together. The team idea is important because the Space Station Alpha team will have to work quickly, especially when
they're dealing with a possible disaster. There's a lot of pressure to find the right answers to protect the astronauts’
lives. “Winning” for these teams can be a matter of life and death.
Mr. T: I bet the pressure helps the scientists form a team, and quick!
Dr. A: Pressure can be a real team-builder.
Mr. T: Based on your experience as a consultant, what makes it hard for people to
form a team?
Dr. A: The two most difficult skills that everyone I know has to learn when they join
a team are Active Listening and Active Participation.
Mr. T: Would you take a moment and describe Active Listening for me?
Dr. A: Sure, first of all simple hearing is different from Active Listening. Active
Listening means hearing plus thinking hard about what you're hearing. Then, a key step is asking questions to make sure
you've heard it right - and understand - before you start giving your opinion. Team members that use Active Listening
actually help each other, they learn about their differences, and they reach conclusions together. These skills help the
team fit all the pieces of the Earth system science puzzle together.
Mr. T: It seems to me that Active Listening might be a good skill for families, too.
How about Active Participation?
Dr. A: Another skill that's great for families. Families are an interesting kind of
team, aren't they? Active Participation means that the team members not only try to contribute equally to the project,
but they help to support each other's work. They are in a constant learning mode— learning about each other and the
problem at the same time.
Mr. T: Active Listening and Active Participation. I bet they're not easy to learn.
Dr. A: They take work, energy, and patience. Everyone, and I mean everyone, on a team
needs to work at these skills. Like any new skill, practice begins to turn into habit. But e-Missions demand these skills.
Mr. T: I've never heard of an e-Mission.
Dr. A: An e-Mission forms when there is an emergency. It could be a natural disaster,
the chance of a terrible natural event, or, in this case, an emergency on our space station. An e-Mission can also form
in response to the outbreak of a disease. This is known as an epidemic. Sometimes an e-Mission is long term, like global
warming and glacial melting. When a country or government thinks there might be a crisis coming, they contact an
organization like e-Mission Headquarters, who forms emergency response teams. These teams investigate the situation and
try to come up with solutions to problems that may occur.
Mr. T: Oh, that's interesting. Please continue.
Dr. A: Scientists have all learned how to share ideas, to unravel problems. They are
very bright, very sincere, and very proud. But all people have different habits they've learned in life and in their
careers that get in the way of productive teamwork. These habits I call "walls." Every team begins with walls. Getting
rid of walls quickly, so they can work together, is really important. So, to build science teams I take what my scientists
do best and try to help them understand where their walls are.
Mr. T: What is the first thing you might do with a new team?
Dr. A: Over the years, I have developed a list of team rules that are important for
productive teamwork. The first thing I do with a new team is to have the members select five team rules from the list.
The selection process needs to be done as a team so that every member agrees to follow the team rules.
Mr. T: That sounds great. Can I get a copy of the team rules?
Dr. A: I'll send you my team rules list. Almost all the rules support Active Listening
and Active Participation, in one way or another.
Mr. T: I look forward to getting them. Maybe they'll help us here at World Science Globe.
Dr. A: I'd be pleased if they did. Just remember, they may look simple on paper, but
talking about them will show you how differently each member of the team thinks.
Mr. T: I know you want to get some sleep, Dr. Alberts. I want to thank you for spending
some time with me.
Dr. A: It was my pleasure.
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