|
|
| Team Building Information |
|
Team Development and Learning
A tight knit team is a group of competent individuals who care deeply about each other and are fiercely committed to their mission. The members are highly motivated to combing their energy and expertise to achieve a common objective. From our observation and studies on team development, we have found three primary conditions that have to be met in order to attain higher levels of team performance and member satisfaction. These three conditions are the heart and soul of team development and yet these conditions are not blueprints. Each developing team is unique, and its needs and details of teamwork have to be worked out separately. Let's look closer at condition number three - Learning. CONDITION NO. 3 ? LEARNING In order to harvest the enormous power of teamwork, one's knowledge, skills and abilities have to be sharpened. This is required to support the values describe in "Condition No. 2 ? Ownership." (This is because values with skills will result in good intentions. But without the skills and behavior the values alone can not produce results. Likewise, nifty skills and techniques without the heart and soul of values will likely be perceived as manipulative and just another management ploy to trick people into giving more to the organization at the expense of its members. How does a team learn best about teamwork? How to take back responsibility? What exactly is there to learn from experiences in teamwork? We have found that the principles of teamwork can best be explored by adult learning modules where people try out their team development skills on actual tasks and activities. We usually select tasks that are uncommon so that participants have a level experience field. Once a task is completed, we carefully lead the learners back through their experience and encourage them to discuss the positives and negatives of the team's effort. We look for common threads of thought and weave together, with their experiences, the key concepts of principles of sound team development. Learners are then asked to plan and transfer their experiences back to the work place and develop plans to turn their learning into productive ideas or strategies. This approach to learning is fun and exciting. It usually leaves a lasting impact and memorable reference points for the future. Groups really acquire the language and the concepts of teamwork. The insights about teamwork are broad and deep. The following is basically an unaltered flip chart session of lessons and insights from a team located in the Midwest that produces heavy equipment. IN OUR TEAM DEVELOPMENT WE LEARNED THAT? The actual list was longer and took nearly two hours to share and report. Frankly, we have not seen any other type of team development process where so many insights occur in a relatively brief period of time. Since we have had the opportunity to work with this group over an extended period of time, we can report that this team was noticeably closer according to reports from other members of the organization as well. After all, what is good for the goose is good for the gander. And if we see the members of the organization as the goose who lays the golden eggs then we need to make a real investment in terms of time and money to keep the goose healthy and well. If you would like more information on Team Development or to learn more about our Team Building programs, please contact a Regional Manager from CMOE toll free at 888-262-2499 or (801)569-3444 x.3023.
|
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Characteristics of High Performance Teams Abstract: Based on significant research, Entelechy has defined characteristics of effective teams. Secrets of Successful Teams To be a success is not always to be a success individually. In fact, most of the time we achieve our successes as part of a team. That is why I want to devote this issue to the secrets of successful team. Resolving Workplace Conflict: 4 Ways to a Win-Win Solution The effects of conflict in the workplace are widespread and costly. Its prevalence, as indicated by three serious studies, shows that 24-60% of management time and energy is spent dealing with anger. This leads to decreased productivity, increased stress among employees, hampered performance, high turnover rate, absenteeism and at its worst, violence and death. Station Teams: Assembly Required Too often teams aren't assembled. They just happen. A project comes along and a team is assigned to work it. The group gathers and attempts to figure out a solution, but trouble starts brewing almost at once. Only some of the people do any work. Some people don't get along. Meetings are frequent and mind numbing. No one is quite sure what the assignment actually is. How To Encourage Ideas From Your Team At Meetings You're at a meeting with key staff. You want some new ideas to address the topic. Looking around at this group of creative, ambitious, bright people, you say, "Let's get some fresh ideas on this. Who's got something?" High Performing Teams: 10 Things You Want To Know About Building A High Performing Team "Conflict becomes politics, commitment becomes 'Only if it's in my best interest', accountability becomes 'Only when it serves me,' and results just fall by the wayside." - Patrick Lencioni, author of "The Five Dysfunctions of a Team", speaking about dysfunctional teams 4 Tips for Keeping a Team Motivated Companies often have incentives for reps, but sometimes that isn't enough. To keep your team motivated, you could do a number of things: Whats Your REAL problem?? When was the last time you spent excessive time and money solving a problem only to discover the problem you thought you had wasn't really the problem at all? What?s Wrong With You, Why Don?t You Understand Me? Recently while waiting for our lunch to be served in a nearby restaurant, my husband Michael and I were discussing our son's upcoming science fair project. Michael was describing the steps that my son should follow to complete the assignment. While Michael was going through this elaborate process, I diligently tried to follow what he was saying, but I sat there completely clueless. As I struggled to gain a better understanding of what he was talking about, my normally affable husband started to show distinct sings of irritation. His unspoken message was 'what's wrong with you, why don't you understand me?" He then proceeded to draw his plan on a napkin in an effort to get his brilliant idea into my dense head. It worked. When Michael started to show me what he was describing, I was able to easily understand his ideas. Book Summary: The 17 Essential Qualities of a Team Player A follow-up companion reader to The 17 Indisputable Laws of Teamwork, here is a clear character profile of the ideal Team Player. Maxwell stresses some main qualities of a good team player: intentional, or she is focused on the big picture, relational, focused on others, selfless, willing to take a backseat for the good of the team, and tenacious - works hard to overcome obstacles, no matter what. Recruiting Government Workers As Franchisees Many believe a leaner government promotes better freedoms with respect to free enterprise and the right to free contract. Leaner governments make fewer laws because of their enforcement capabilities. Under our current direction with high government debt loads and low unemployment we will begin to see a downsizing of government at every level. We see it in a few closures of military bases. The Federal Government is the United States' second largest employer behind Wal-Mart with about the same level of ambition, intelligence and energy. It employs over 900,000 people without including military, enforcement agencies, governmental administrators and or politicians. If the government (Federal) cut itself by 20% and we believe 40% is more in order: that would be 180,000 job cuts or about 3600 people per state at 20%. Larger states like California could be as high as 21,600 at a twenty percent reduction Company Picnic Ideas and Planning Tips The company picnic is a beloved tradition at many firms. Marche, or How Teams Work. On the trail in Northern Canada "Marche" was the word that translated as "Mush" and was used to drive the dog teams that once were the only source of power in the frozen North. Putting Your Expert Team Together As a freelance writer myself, I know how important it is to have, and keep track of, experts to interview. Here are a few ideas on the topic: Dealing with People that Drive You Crazy! We all know someone who just drives us batty. Perhaps the person is too noisy, too borish, or too flashy. Perhaps the person is too gossipy, critical, or lazy. There are hundreds of reasons why we may not relate well to a person. How to Align Your Team through Change Eight Principles for Purposeful Alignment The Team Process We live in very progressive times, one only has to look around at the changes on the internet each day to see that this is true. Leadership Quality Through Kindness In days past, loyalty was a given. The worker in past generations frequently remained with a company for his or her lifetime. It was not just a matter of a company town, it was an ethic ... the job was guaranteed by tacit tradition and in return for an honest day's work, the employee had the comfort of lifetime employment. Frequently it was an unwritten contract. Loyalty was universal and protection of the employee was fundamental and gratuitous. Employees spoke well of their companies and insured that quality service was given and excellence in product was achieved. Checklist for High Performing Teams Why do some teams perform well while others struggle? How can you assess how effectively your team is working now, and identify methods for improvement? Listening Between the Lines Have you seen the tee-shirt with the slogan, "Talk to the hand 'cos the face ain't listening?" Do you feel it's like this sometimes when you are trying to get through to people? But just how good a listener are you? Do you actually "listen between the lines?"
|
|
|
| Home | Site Map | Salesmanship Ebook | Motivational Ebook | Job and Resume Posting| Affiliate program | |
|
| 2006 All Rights Reserved. by Mp.sg Term of use and service for the articles and information |