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Building a successful team is a challenge when
members have worked together previously and
know each other on many levels. As a leader you
set the standard and the tone for how the team
functions. Several strategies are useful to gain
cooperation and self-motivation.
A. Conduct informational interviews with the
staff.
Give each of them a specified period of time
to meet with you – ask each the same questions
and document the answers.
1. What inspires you about the work you do?
2. What is your favorite task?
3. What talents to you have that are not being
tapped?
4. What would make your job more motivating
for you?
5. What activities do you enjoy most in your job?
6. What is your vision for this team?Organization?
Company?
7. What has been your greatest contribution to
the team?
In getting to know team members, you can use
their skills and talents more effectively.
B. Use the ideas team members suggest.
Even the seemingly insignificant ideas can have
tremendous long term impact as long as they are
viable and are a reasonable investment.
C. Give the team ownership of the vision or
mission.
Help them see how they are contributing
to the vision – and reward their successes.
Constant reinforcement in letting them know they
are appreciated and valued serves you and the
team.
D. With a varied team, you have “yes” people
and “no” people.
Challenge each camp to view a
situation from its opposite. For example – those
who think nothing works, ask them to figure out
how something can work, and what ideas they have
to make it work. Those who are so agreeable to
everything you ask would do well to be challenged
on how something may not be the best idea. After
all, your competitor looks at what you are doing
and improves on it!
E. Exchange positions for a day.
Each will gain
a better appreciation for what others on the team
are experiencing and accomplishing. They will
grow to understand what it takes for each to get
the job done. You may discover that someone is
in the wrong seat on your bus, and is better suited
for another position on your team.
F. Ask them what the higher purpose is that
your organization or company is involved in.
Avoid stating the obvious: a bakery doesn’t just
bake cookies, pies, cakes and donuts. The bakery
feeds customers at significant times in their lives…
weddings, birthdays, funerals, showers, special
events, family gatherings, even a quick “pick me
up” time of the day. The bakery is present in the
customers’ lives on a regular basis.
Creating a Team Matrix
By Lillian Zarzar