Articles

May 2005: Manage This … Teamwork

Building an excellent team is not easy, but the results will be significant to your bottom line.

In his book “The Five Dysfunctions of a Team,” Patrick Lencioni points out that successful teams have these five things in common: 1. trust; 2. unfiltered conflict around ideas; 3. commitment to decisions and action plans; 4. team accountability for delivering against action plans; and 5. focused attention on results. How do your teams perform on these? While these may sound straightforward, they are challenging to implement.

Successful teams take the time to work on their relationships. Having a facilitator direct your teams in setting up team standards and expectations helps create common language and alleviates unproductive conflict. Standards can encompass everything from basic communication to conflict resolution. For example, one team that I facilitated created the standard “Acknowledge animosity; talk to the person before it elevates.”

Another key to a successful team is diversity — cultural, work styles and personalities. Research shows that a more diverse team will produce better outcomes and be more innovative. And the better your teams understand their differences, the better they can leverage them. Completing the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) helps individuals understand and appreciate personality differences.

Taking the time to improve how your teams work together will increase your success as a manager and your satisfaction at work.

Start improving how your teams works together. Contact us today. We can facilitate teambuilding sessions, including the MBTI.

Halmi Performance Consulting:
kerrie@halmiperformance.com
510-336-0654

Manage This … Effective communication underlies all management skills. How can you become a better communicator? See the answer right here on the second Monday in June.

Please feel free to call or write with questions or comments. I welcome your feedback.

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If you want specific references for any of the material, please let me know.

Manage This … is a monthly eZine by Kerrie Halmi, Halmi Performance Consulting. Visit www.halmiperformance.com.