Treat business like a team sport and you will create great teams. In great teams: everyone wants to be part of the team, each team member knows the part they must play in order to kick business goals, and each team member has the skills and pathways to do their best work for business success. As their leader – take on the characteristics of a Coach.
- If your job is to build great teams take on the characteristics of a coach (not Captain).
- Bring people together into a team where their skills are complementary and suited to the work to be performed.
- Give people the resources they need and any training to be in their best form to undertake their work.
- Give timely feedback to individuals and the whole team. Feedback given too late has no immediate value and impact.
- Mistakes are opportunities for learning and problem-solving. Avoid blaming and shaming.
The difference between a mediocre team and a winning team, or a dysfunctional team and a functional one can be found in the following characteristics:
Self-awareness- knowing where individuals fit into the team’s workflow and where they individually contribute to the greater good, has an impact on personal and overall team cohesion.
Sense of responsibility- when the care factor of individuals is “0” it will be virtually impossible to focus them on tasks and have them feel that their team contribution is important. Each component of work is a piece of the puzzle and without it, the team collective will struggle. Acknowledging and valuing the contributions of each team member creates a sense of responsibility and interdependency in them that will nurture great teams.
Sense of shared purpose- when teams share a common purpose, each member of the team will work towards it and as a collective will develop a rhythm that feeds their motivation and feelings of worth and job satisfaction. Think of business as a team sport, treat your people as valuable team players and business will thrive.
Contact us to find out more how our Leadership Partners can work with you in building effective teams and train your captains into coaches.