Building The Winning Team

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.

The big picture and goals.

Explain the team's mission / purpose and how it fits in with the company's or department's goals. Therefore members will become more motivated and empowered to get involved.

The positive attributes and experience of each member that led to his or her selection. Explain the need for a variety of skills or expertise in developing effective teams.

The "who does what when." When a team is formed, people often are confused about their particular roles and responsibilities. Get the team immediately involved in establishing specific short-term objectives as well as determining the steps required to accomplish these objectives. This helps members quickly move from the 'me' to the 'we' stage of effective teamwork.

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.

---

Team Work

So much has been written on this subject; Team Work,... Read More

You, Your Team, and Your Coach

The grand purpose of coaching is to help your managers,... Read More

General Patton and Leadership

No figure in history is like General Patton. He was... Read More

Building Successful Work Relationships--Playing In The Same Sandbox

Remember playing in your childhood sandbox? If you enjoyed being... Read More

The Magic and Mystery of Teams

As the world of manufacturing has become increasingly competitive, managers... Read More

How to Boost Morale In Your Organisation

Who keeps the wheels turning in your organisation? Who holds... Read More

Getting Team Discussions Moving in The Right Direction

Group discussions are where much of the creative work of... Read More

Safety First - Five Reasons to Hold a Routine Safety Meeting

Workplace safety is important to all businesses for ethical, legal... Read More

Mastermind Team: Do You Have One?

The key to life is to be around the people... Read More

Team Success with ?Innies?: Why You Want Them on Your Team and How to Help Them Excel

Everyone knows, works or lives with "innies." Who are they... Read More

Build a Great Team - Ten Easy Ways to Start!

It's all about focusing on where the best value in... Read More

Dealing with Difficult People: Ten Ways to Improve Your Communications Success

Have you noticed that some people seem to stop listening... Read More

Your Administration Team - Look After Them

In most organisations the administration/support team, although they can be... Read More

Motivation - Dont Make Your Team Uncomfortable

The people in your team may feel a bit uncomfortable... Read More

Team Building Seminars: Why New Teams Struggle

With over 25 years of research and experience, we have... Read More

Landscaping Business; Employee Relations

There are few industries or service type businesses, which are... Read More

Building High Performing Teams: Putting the I Back in Teamwork

Ever watched a really brilliant idea meet with resistance and... Read More

Why People Dont Listen... and Some Fun Things You Can Do About It

It's frustrating when your co-workers, audience members, teenager or even... Read More

Resolving Workplace Conflict: 4 Ways to a Win-Win Solution

The effects of conflict in the workplace are widespread and... Read More

How To Encourage Ideas From Your Team At Meetings

You're at a meeting with key staff. You want some... Read More

Top Ten Creative Excursions for Building Effective Teams

The ability to build effective teams is a must for... Read More

Whats the Secret Ingredient That Turns Groups into Teams?

What's the Secret Ingredient That Turns Groups into Teams? Working... Read More

You are Excused from Training

Trainers, please picture this... You are presenting in a new... Read More

Team Member Feedback: A Priceless Communication Tool

Feedback is such an important communication tool. Openness, honesty, candor,... Read More

Putting the I in Team

This sports cliche is a memorable phrase that reminds people... Read More

WIIFM - Making the Whats In It for Me? Question Work for You

In the constantly changing world of Call Centers, asking agents... Read More

Always In Motion Is The Future

It's the summer of 1973, and a young film director... Read More

Effective Team Building For Organizational Success

"Teamwork is the ability to work together toward a common... Read More

Feedback - How to Make it Effective

Let's look at the detail of giving feedback. Whether you... Read More

Aligning Corporate Teams

Picture yourself entering a corporate meeting, team meeting, or business... Read More

Business Innovation ? Group Creativity

Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More

3 Steps To Successfully Build A Team In Any Program

Any x by y matrix plan has one big risk...... Read More

Secrets of Successful Teams

To be a success is not always to be a... Read More