Posts Tagged ‘team work’

When we are part of a team that is delivering results we feel hugely motivated and when we are hugely motivated we tend to keep taking performance to a higher level.

Often small teams whose members are drawn from a group of people who tend to share common values and ways of thinking achieve a lot. The struggle sometimes arises when people are asked to work in a cross functional or cross discipline team.

In these situations, it is not uncommon for there to be:

• Power struggles where different groups are trying to take the lead and be in charge

• Silo thinking where people are only thinking about the impact on their little part of the pie

• Conflict and argument without there being any productive results orientated behaviours

When working in the team, especially one that is cross functional:

Recognise that different people view the same problem differently

The way that we look at and respond to a particular challenge will be influenced by factors such as our experience, training, skill set, knowledge and our personal stake to name just a few. Rather than trying to force through your way, try to focus on creating a new way of doing things that embraces the richness of the collective experience and expertise of the whole team.

Remember it all balances out in the long run

Sometimes you will be the person who provides the spark of inspiration or builds on the ideas of others. At other times you will have to take more of a back seat. In the long run however you will get plenty of opportunity to be the catalyst for the team.

Get all views heard

Some of us are more outgoing extrovert types while others are more introverted and quiet. If you are in the role of leading a team, it is vital that you create the opportunity for all views to be heard. Failing to do so could result in key opportunities being lost.

Keep the focus on the end game

Ultimately the team is tasked with delivering a result. It is all too easy to get dragged into personal agendas and pet topics. When you notice this happening, get teams re-connected to the overall purpose, goal or end game.

Bottom Line – Teams present their own challenges. The key is to understand an use these dynamics to create success.

Duncan Brodie of Goals and Achievements helps accountants and health professionals to become highly effective leaders and managers. Check out his free audio masterclass Leading and Managing Highly Productive and Highly Positive Teams – click here

When teams get to performing there is no doubting the value and benefit that they bring.  Sometimes however, teams just do not work effectively.  So what stops teams from working effectively?

 

Fuzzy goals or objectives

 

If a team does not know with absolute clarity what it is to deliver, chances are that at best it will deliver something of little value or at worst nothing at all.  Don’t compromise the ability of the team by leaving it to try and finger out what it is to deliver.  Make it crystal clear.

 

Roles are not defined

 

Just imagine a scenario.  Something has not gone as expected and everyone is saying that they thought that someone else was doing the task that was so critical.  When riles are not defined things fall down a track and when things fall down a crack no one wins.  Get clear on who is doing what.

 

Bad decision making

 

Taking decisions as a team is different to taking decisions individually.  It requires team members to rely on each other, a concept that might be alien.  One thing is certain you will get some decisions wrong.  The key is to aim to get a clear decision making process on the team that everyone understands.

 

Policies and procedures that are past their sell by date

 

Organisations, especially big organisations need to have some boundaries and protocols which are typically set out in policies and procedures.  Trouble is these policies and procedures can easily become onerous our out of touch with current practice.  Make sure that policies and procedures are still relevant.

 

People don’t interact with each other appropriately

 

We all based on our experiences, background, professional disciplines have different preferences.  Trouble is people often forget this and fail to adapt their style to move closer to the people they are interacting with.  Make a point of thinking about the other person’s preferences when interacting.

 

Bottom Line- Teams when working well together have the potential to deliver great results.  So what’s getting in the way of successful team working in your organisation?

 

Duncan Brodie of Goals and Achievements helps professionals improve their leadership and management skills and improve team working.  Click here for more information.