Something strange happened when I was introduced to our 2022 Genesis Block interns. Mrs Hider, from Westford Academy, assisted in connecting us and made introductions via an email.
I responded-all to her email with a ‘Welcome to Genesis Block’ message. I introduced myself and Red Sky, my ongoing blockchain research, the two phases of the Genesis Block internship program and the requirement that each intern perform a small research assignment prior to being formally accepted into the program. So far, so normal.
The strange something happened next. I had expected to receive five replies, one from each intern. I expected individualized messages along the format of ‘Hi Mr Whitehill, I’m so and so, thanks a lot, blah blah blah’, but no.
Unexpectedly, I received a single reply, a group response sent by a one of the students representing the team!
“We look forward to working with you” the team wrote. “One question we had was…” they asked. They informed me that “we all have 2-3 AP classes” and closed with “Other than that, we are ready for the research assignment.”
Whoa, who are these students? Who writes group emails?
There is a long answer and a short answer and I’m sure you’ll want the short (ok, but two parts 🙂 ).
Short answer, Part 1: The Stages of a Relationship
Every relationship, a team’s included, must navigate stages of development. Skip these stages at your peril. Cleverly, the memorable names of these stages are: Forming, Storming, Norming and Performing. You can imagine what happens in each.
I know these tidbits because I studied group dynamics during my shortish outdoor leadership career (cycling, canoeing, rock climbing, team building) and as an instructor at Oregon State University and various community colleges.
Short answer, Part 2: Strange Explained
It is now obvious, that our Genesis Block team achieved the performing stage long before they penned that group reply to me and think it perfectly normal to speak as a team. Earlier this year, for example, the team had proposed their own 2022 Capstone program. And easily enough, I can imagine that during their promotional effort, the sent many one voiced, team emails – until it became a healthy habit.
While it is unfortunate their proposal did not succeed, it is fortunate for me that Mrs Hider connected them to Genesis Block because it is now I who benefits as I watch them in action and enjoy their performance.
Today’s Pic: we have begun to domain model the first 3 chapters of The Bitcoin Standard, by Saifedean Ammous.
