Winning teams aren't created by accident. Rather, the team or project leader functions like a coach who recognizes special talents in people and, at the same time, gets them to work together toward a common goal. The following steps will help you select a cohesive team and set it in the right direction.
Evaluate team candidates.
You may be called upon to assemble a team of players from different or competing organizations to take on a special assignment. Or, you have to pick from your own staff those who should work together on a particular project. Too often, leaders merely assess a project's demands and select people on technical qualifications. But that approach can fail if the personalities and specific talents don't mesh. Teams succeed when leaders give as much thought to team relationships as to the tasks that need to be performed.
Team members should complement each other's talents. For example, one worker may find it easy to come up with idea, but may find it difficult to analyze problems. Another worker may have analytical skills but may not be creative. These two would play to each other's strengths. Also recognize that some people can take a project and run it with little guidance. Others need every detail spelled out. Make sure you have a mixture of necessary skill sets to get the job done.
Get the team off the ground.
Clarify the following for team members.
Maintain involvement and productivity.
At this stage, members begin to understand what roles they need to play in order to reach the team's objectives. The next step is to determine a set of ground rules of how they will operate together. Team members need to define effective team behaviors. For example, they need to discuss how they will handle conflict, how they will make decisions, how they will address inappropriate or counter-productive behaviors, etc.
Look out for these danger signs.
You have a problem if members: Don't take responsibility for their actions; Break into subgroups instead of sharing work; Expect others to solve their problems; miss deadlines and lose interest in their work.
If problems arise among team members, act quickly. Have regular scheduled "let's see how we're doing" meetings to address issues, conflicts, and uncertainties. Also provide on-going interactive skills training in group problem-solving techniques.
Don't expect teams to develop in the dark. Make sure you have provided the light that will spark member's involvement, participation, and productivity.
Marcia Zidle, the 'people smarts' coach, works with business leaders to quickly solve their people management headaches so they can concentrate on their #1 job ? to grow and increase profits. She offers free help through Leadership Briefing, a weekly e-newsletter with practical tips on leadership style, employee motivation, recruitment and retention and relationship management. Subscribe by going to http://leadershiphooks.com/ and get the bonus report "61 Leadership Time Savers and Life Savers". Marcia is the author of the What Really Works Handbooks ? resources for managers on the front line and the Power-by-the-Hour programs ? fast, convenient, real life, affordable courses for leadership and staff development. She is available for media interviews, conference presentations and panel discussions on the hottest issues affecting the workplace today. Contact Marcia at 800-971-7619.
shuttle from O'Hare Bingham .. Lockport Chicago limo O’HareAs I work with clients to strengthen their teams and... Read More
On the trail in Northern Canada "Marche" was the word... Read More
One of the best ways to ensure that your planning... Read More
There are few industries or service type businesses, which are... Read More
It's frustrating when your co-workers, audience members, teenager or even... Read More
In the new corporate environments where everyone wears more than... Read More
So much has been written on this subject; Team Work,... Read More
Too many techies get a bad rap for lacking teamwork... Read More
Winning teams aren't created by accident. Rather, the team or... Read More
In a recent group coaching session, a client mentioned that... Read More
Effective and sustainable teambuilding is necessary in today's marketplace where... Read More
When leaders, consultants and managers require ideas, they automatically tend... Read More
We all know someone who just drives us batty. Perhaps... Read More
When was the last time you spent excessive time and... Read More
Remember playing in your childhood sandbox? If you enjoyed being... Read More
Today, most of us have been involved in a team... Read More
A tight knit team is a group of competent individuals... Read More
Introduction:Working with teams, whether as leader of a single team... Read More
More and more I hear people misunderstanding what someone else... Read More
A follow-up companion reader to The 17 Indisputable Laws of... Read More
Who keeps the wheels turning in your organisation? Who holds... Read More
Proactive High Performance Teamwork is made up of nine proactive... Read More
The world of work has changed. It used to be... Read More
Recently I decided to stretch my athletic abilities and add... Read More
Over the years there has been much ado about team... Read More
Mishawaka limo O'Hare ..The other day I got a call from a friend... Read More
The ability to build effective teams is a must for... Read More
Most believe that leadership is an innate quality that some... Read More
Last month's edition of Footprints and Monuments illustrated a parallel... Read More
The very effective tool of keeping a journal can be... Read More
From the moment he putted with Bob Hope on the... Read More
TEAM LEADERS WORKSHOPAlice asked Cheshire cat "which road should I... Read More
Multiculturalism is a reality in North America and for those... Read More
Giving gifts to your co-workers or your employees can be... Read More
I'm often asked, "Why is my team always fighting fires... Read More
One of the greatest challenges a coaching manager has is... Read More
Survival: The Name of the New Economic Game People rarely... Read More
It's all about focusing on where the best value in... Read More
Companies often have incentives for reps, but sometimes that isn't... Read More
A lot of effort has been carried out in the... Read More
This sports cliche is a memorable phrase that reminds people... Read More
Team Building Question:Our office has recently learned that about 20... Read More
Just today my partner Russ and I sat down to... Read More
The rise of the internet has given businesses a new... Read More
Do you let your people express their thoughts about the... Read More
On the trail in Northern Canada "Marche" was the word... Read More
A follow-up companion reader to The 17 Indisputable Laws of... Read More
The company picnic is a beloved tradition at many firms.It's... Read More
The key to life is to be around the people... Read More
For a brief time, I tried to sell life insurance.... Read More
Team Building |