Creating a Strong Team
A strong team in any business environment doesn’t magically appear. It is fundamental to the development of a strong team that a solid plan is in place to help that team succeed. There are numerous strategies you can employ to help this happen. Consider the following suggestions for your next team development, whether it be starting a new business venture or beginning the newest phase of a project.
Numerous sources concur that the most important element of strength in a team is the careful selection of each individual on the team. By determining specific goals beforehand and considering your employees’ strengths and weaknesses, you can tailor the team design for success. This is true whether you are choosing a business partner, as referenced here, or organizing a team to market a new product. Giving employees the chance to be part of a cohesive team, in which they are given the opportunity to excel, can both help improve morale and increase productivity.
It is also imperative that the expectations you develop for team members are clearly communicated to them. Remember that you have chosen team members for a specific reason. Let team members play to their strengths within the framework provided to them and don’t micromanage the situation. A team that functions as it was designed to does not need excessive supervision.
That being said, it can be beneficial to maintain a regular schedule of team development exercises. Master Class Management reminds us that simply declaring a group of people a team does not make them one. “Team building is not a one-time activity.” Using this strategy to help the team’s growth is a necessary part of maintaining its strength.
One source suggests the “Twelve C’s” approach to team building. The “Twelve C’s” are defined as: Clear expectations, Context, Commitment, Competence, Charter, Control, Collaboration, Communication, Creative innovation, Consequences, Coordination, and Cultural change. For the full discussion of this method, check here. Regardless of the method you choose for developing your team, remember: choose members wisely, make expectations clear from the outset, keep tabs but don’t micromanage, and continue to facilitate the group’s growth as a cohesive unit.
SOURCES: http://www.masterclassmanagement.com/ManagementCourse-Training1.html
http://humanresources.about.com/od/involvementteams/a/twelve_tip_team.htm\