| The Web 2.0 revolution is changing the way | | | | affecting your organization's direction and growth. |
| information is exchanged and allowing individuals, | | | | Consultants are typically natural networkers and |
| businesses, and communities to connect and | | | | wealth of resources. They can easily be a |
| share resources, ideas, and solutions like never | | | | powerful contributing factor to your organization's |
| before. Collaborative expertise is the new key | | | | long-term success and expansion. |
| competency for business success. | | | | 4. Cultivate an atmosphere where team members |
| Fostering a work culture that values and cultivates | | | | can appreciate the diversity of talent on the |
| collaboration is the DNA of team building. As One | | | | team, not just in skill set and areas of expertise, |
| Minute Manager, Ken Blanchard discovered, in a | | | | but from a whole person perspective. If the team |
| teamwork environment, people understand and | | | | is working on a long-term project consider |
| believe that thinking, planning, decisions and actions | | | | investing in the Myers Briggs assessment, DISC |
| are better when done cooperatively. People | | | | or Enneagram training for the workplace. |
| recognize and assimilate the belief that "none of | | | | 5. Have a rewards or recognition program in place. |
| us is as good as all of us." | | | | Giving public recognition on the company intranet, |
| In America, many of our institutions such as | | | | newsletter, or in a staff meeting, or rewarding |
| schools, our family structures, and our pastimes | | | | high-performers with gift certificates to a spa or |
| still emphasize winning, being the best, and coming | | | | event, are just a few low-cost, no-cost ways to |
| out on top. Workplaces that exemplify and | | | | acknowledge team members for a job well done. |
| reward teamwork are not yet the norm. | | | | 6. Build fun and shared occasions into the |
| Organizations, however, are working on valuing | | | | organization's agenda. |
| diverse people, ideas, backgrounds, and | | | | Hold potluck lunches; take the team to a |
| experiences. As part of the social transformation | | | | performance or cultural event. Host dinners at a |
| that we see taking place globally, collaboration, | | | | local restaurant, (include your associates' families) |
| co-creation and cooperation seem to be values | | | | or plan an outdoor event such as hiking, bicycling, |
| that are being more readily embraced and | | | | or even river rafting. |
| promoted in organizational development. | | | | 7. Encourage collaborative leadership models within |
| Having consulted many senior managers, | | | | your workplace. |
| educational, and organizational leaders over the | | | | Move away from traditional, hierarchical leadership |
| past 13 years, I've included here my Ten Tips for | | | | models that are deadening to the human spirit and |
| Building Terrific Teams as a quick guide to | | | | that can create separation, distrust, and a |
| cultivating successful teams, encouraging creativity | | | | competitive environment. Focus on cooperative |
| and innovation, and attaining optimal results within | | | | models for team performance. Rotating facilitators |
| your business or organization. | | | | at your weekly or monthly meetings is one way |
| TEN TIPS for BUILDING TERRIFIC TEAMS | | | | to begin this shift. Appointing co-managers to lead |
| 1. Communicate Clear Expectations. | | | | a project is another effective strategy. |
| It is crucial that team members know why they | | | | 8. Create opportunities for giving and receiving |
| are working together, and how their role, | | | | feedback. |
| functions, and outcomes contribute to the bigger | | | | In his recent US tour, the Dalai Lama continually |
| picture and overall success of the organization, its | | | | emphasized the importance of dialog, along with |
| clients and coworkers. As a leader, how clearly | | | | education and training opportunities in our |
| you communicate the overall vision, mission, and | | | | increasing diverse and complex society. How well |
| values of the organization will be the power | | | | trained are you and your people in examining |
| driving the team forward. | | | | assumptions, active listening, asking for |
| 2. Have an agenda with objectives at team | | | | clarification, and other non-defensive |
| meetings. | | | | communication models that make it safe for you |
| Allow time for progress updates, discussion, | | | | and your associates to express needs, be heard, |
| brainstorming, and action plans. It can be | | | | and enthusiastically create innovative solutions with |
| particularly beneficial if the meeting facilitator is | | | | and for each other? |
| trained in Cross-Cultural Awareness, or Marshall | | | | 9. Provide resources. |
| Rosenberg's Non-Violent Communication practices. | | | | One of the surest ways to create chaos and |
| Using these techniques will help keep a diverse | | | | diminish motivation, performance, and morale is to |
| team cohesive and focused, encourage | | | | expect people to perform without the tools and |
| everyone's participation, and can easily diffuse and | | | | resources they need to deliver outcomes they |
| transform stagnation. Change, creativity and | | | | are proud of. Be sure everyone has the basic |
| solutions are not birthed in a static environment. | | | | information and tools they need to perform, |
| Are necessary concerns and misunderstandings | | | | including healthy, ergonomic workstations. |
| raised and properly addressed on your team? | | | | 10. Form a Green Team at work. |
| 3. Include your consultants and independent | | | | Help your people raise their awareness of |
| contractors in your brainstorming meetings. | | | | opportunities to save energy and contribute to a |
| One of the biggest mistakes some organizations | | | | healthy and sustainable environment. By allowing |
| make is to not include consultants and | | | | others to take leadership and responsibility, |
| independent contractors in staff meetings, project | | | | passion takes hold. A green team can be very |
| updates, long-term goals and vision. You will get a | | | | motivational for employees who want to make a |
| lot more mileage from your consultants when | | | | difference in their work environment. |
| they are included in discussions and sessions | | | | It takes teamwork to make the dream work! |