The film “Three Monks” is based on the ancient Chinese proverb "One monk will shoulder two buckets of water; two monks will share the load, but add a third and no one will want to fetch water."
Plot
A young monk lives a simple life in a temple on top of a hill. He has one daily task of hauling two buckets of water up the hill. He tries to share the job with another monk, but the carry pole is only long enough for one bucket. The arrival of a third monk prompts everyone to expect that someone else will take on the chore. Consequently, no one fetches water though everybody is thirsty. At night, a rat comes to scrounge and then knocks the candle holder, leading to a devastating fire in the temple. The three monks finally unite together and make a concerted effort to put out the fire. Since then they understand the old saying "unity is strength" and begin to live a harmonious life. The temple never lacks water again. [Source: Wikipedia]
Analysis
Let’s look at several acceptable definitions of teamwork
“Work done by several associates with each doing a part but all subordinating personal prominence to the efficiency of the whole” by Merriam-Webster dictionary
“The interdependent components of performance required to effectively coordinate the performance of multiple individuals”
Let's have a look at the method employed by the monks to fetch the water up to the monastery.
1. One monk carries 2 buckets of water at a time and takes it to the monastery.
2. Two monks share the load of a single bucket of water.
3. The work comes almost to a standstill when the third monk comes
4. The use of pulley system to fetch the water in which all 3 monks are involved.
A team is supposed to achieve what an individual person can’t achieve. One might wonder why even after having more team members productivity decreased from 1 à 2à 3, well because there was no team work at all, this so called team was actually counterproductive, achieving less than what a single person could achieve. This scenario is not too uncommon, it happens in day to day life. Let’s explore the reasons why it happened, I have highlighted the most important ones here
Lack of leadership
Individual tasks undefined
No open communication
Working relationship not good at all
What changed in situation 4? Well, they started working as a “team”
Open communication - In any collaborative effort, communicating openly is a very important component of the process. This factor helps create the ideal environment for teamwork to actually work
Balanced team membership - No five fingers are alike. Every team comprises of people with different attributes and quality. The strengths and weaknesses of the team members should complement each other. This way, at least one person could work on each important aspect of the tasks of the team. Three monks took roles in situation 4 according to their competencies.
Good working relationships - Team members need to work together harmoniously. Personal differences and opinions can differ at times. But don’t allow these to affect good working relationships. Friction in the team actually gives team members the opportunity to practice professionalism and collegiality.
Creativity - Solution to the water problem shown at the end of the video was indeed creative
Fun - As a consequence of creativity, team members will have fun while working together. Fun also helps keep the drudgery away. Most of the time, passionate people know how to have fun even while at work.
Results-orientation - It is good to have fun while working yet, the achievement of results should never be compromised. But actually, results can be the natural consequence of creativity and fun tempered by the other ingredients of effective team work.
Loyalty to the team - When team members are loyal to the team, they tend to set aside extreme individualism, thus facilitating a smoother working relationship.
Clear goals and targets - Team members should have clear goals and targets so that team members know what they are working for and when they should be delivered.
Clear expectations - When team members know exactly what is expected from them, they can manage their workload and work more effectively and more efficiently.
Commitment - When team members are committed to the appointed tasks, the team becomes more intentional in completing these tasks. Even when they encounter setbacks and difficulties, the team can persevere and do what is necessary.
Competence - Team members and the team in general should have a level of competence so that the tasks can be accomplished more easily and efficiently. This level of competence will decide whether the innovation brought about in water fetching process would be incremental or drastic. The solution presented at the end of the video was creative and an example of drastic innovation.
Collaboration - Imagine a team without collaboration. That’s not a team at all; it is merely a collection of obstinate individuals.
Coordination of efforts - A team member’s task should be clear and well coordinated. Otherwise, the tasks of each member would be confusing and overlapping.
Mutual support - Effective teamwork presupposes mutual support. After all, when one member finds his tasks difficult, the other members can come to his aid and help him figure things out.
