Team building takes work but the results are worth it. The essential ingredient is time and patience.
If you really want to build a team that will achieve outstanding results you can.
The Hype
Over the years team work has been the flavor of the day with many businesses spending considerable money in trying to achieve a positive and harmonious team structure.
Some have found the results they looked for but many have not.
Why is this so?
Team building has a number of foundation building blocks that are essential for a team to function.
Commitment of the Manager or Owner
Some managers and owners get excited about team possibilities only to weary over time where the pressures of business and day to day life grind them down.
Your commitment by way of your action and time are critical to your teams success.
Time
It takes time to build teams. Trust and respect need to be earnt and there are no short cuts. Make a decision to pay the cost and demonstrate your commitment.
Patience
Life sometimes throws us a curve ball and not all of our plans go according to the script.
Make a commitment to be patient and as long as you see incremental progress realize progress is progress.
Celebrate Success and do not condemn failures
Learn to celebrate your successes as a team as you go along and learn from failure. Failure is a fantastic teacher if you look at it that way. If you own the business or are a manager realize that you are particularly under scrutiny of your team more so when failure occurs.
Your reaction to change and failure will ultimately determine the amount of buy in you achieve from your team.
Learn to Delegate
As business owners we are sometimes afraid to delegate. Start with small things and as your team gets confidence and does the right thing increase the responsibility.
Be quick to learn
Be quick to learn from each other. The most unlikely team member may be sitting on the very edge you have been looking for in your business.
Listen
Many managers and employees are terrible listeners. Learn to hear what people are really saying and don't devalue their contributions.
Encouragement
It has been reported that children need 7 compliments to counteract 1 negative statement.
How much more important then is it to encourage your team. Anyone can condemn however a good manager and team member knows how to give genuine encouragement. Show genuine interest.
An Example
Before starting Biz Momentum I once took over an organisation that was almost beyond repair. By applying these principals by listening and resourcing employees I took the company from a damaging loss to a substantial profit within 1 year. This was a complex business with complex people and serious mistrust issues.
The cost to me was emotional commitment to change and to listen - it worked.
I was subsequently summoned overseas to report to the main shareholder who wanted to know how this was done so quickly. The answer is easy, the application harder the question is will you pay the price.
Visit www.biz-momentum.com for more information. You can do it - apply some of these principles and you will achieve results
Philip Lye is the founder of Biz Momentum providing strategic human resource management advice to help your business grow. Philip is a author and educator who trains management and employees to work together to achieve tangible results. Philip has had considerable international experience.
Visit http://www.biz-momentum.com for other helpful articles.
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