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Team_Building_-_Ten_Easy_Ways_to_Do_It
| Team Building - Ten Easy Ways to Do It
Why is it so challenging for many managers and leaders to build
a great little team around them? What proves so difficult? Well,
what we will do here is to try to tease out all the elements of
how you go about easy Team Building.
It's all about focusing on where the best value in using time
lies. Who is the leader of the team and what is your best use of
time. Getting to know your own value and appreciating
where you add it best is a big, and very productive step.
So, to start at the beginning, here's how...
Do Less
One of the most important shifts for you is to appreciate that
leading a team is about giving way and letting others get on
with it.
Communicate Well
Keep in touch regularly. Keep your people informed and listen to
them well. Ups and downs - if you do this, they will build their
trust in you.
Be Interested in the People
By creating a great team remember that they are all
individuals too - they are real people who have differing
needs from you. Appreciating that differentiates you as an
exceptional team leader. There is an I in team!
Choose Well
The best time to choose a team is at the start. If you tolerate
poor team members it is much, much harder to fix. So choose
well. Recruit well. It's the best form of Team Building you can
use.
Learn Together
This is a concerted effort of co-operative learning - all
together, including you - admit your shortfalls and they
will support you. Support them and they will grow!
Review
And as part of that learning, review progress regularly;
appreciate if someone is struggling and encourage ways to learn
and move on. Review the end result too Using what's been learned
for the next project.
Be Open
As leader you have an important role to make sure that the job
gets done. Yet you are allowed to be open with them - to
share your concerns and fears. It is OK to be human and
within that emotional bond, you will all become a stronger team.
Allow Failure
How you handle things when they do go wrong is a vital component
in how your team will evolve and how you will evolve as a
team leader. The outcome will be positive or more fear and
doubt. As Charles Lindbergh said:-
"What kind of man would live where there is no
daring. I don't believe in taking foolish chances, but nothing
can be accomplished without taking any chance at
all" Have Fun
It's OK to have fun. A team leader walks a fine line between
over-familiarity and easy business relationships. But it can be
done - watch for signals and respond accordingly. At the same
time enable laughter and joy. It is a strong bond.
Spread the Word
When the team work is over, or if key people move on, rejoice in
what they take from the experience with you. Encourage
them to use their experience of Team Building with their new
people and do it for themselves.
Once you get on a roll and take all these on board, Team
Building develops a self-sustaining momentum all of it's own...
About the author:
© 2005 Martin Haworth is a Business and Management Coach.
He works worldwide, mainly by phone, with small business owners,
managers and corporate leaders. He has hundreds of hints, tips
and ideas at his website, www.coaching-business-to-success.com.
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