Conferences


Team Development Strategies

I’ve written before about Leadership and the wonders of Teamwork (we are very passionate fans of effective teamwork!) so here are some specifics to help get your team off to a great start this year. 

Consider these points together in your team environment (most of this is applicable to sole traders too) and get co-creating.  Partnerships, collaboration, co-creation, connectivity and ethical behaviours are all ‘up’ and make the work day exponentially more rewarding - in every way. 

  1. Are the Vision/Mission/Values clear? (for the organisation, project, team, individuals)

  2. Do you have clearly understood decision making processes? (Do responsibilities match up with authority to make decisions? An organisation that cannot make decisions is paralyzed)

  3. Do you have clearly understood guidelines for behaviour? (How do we want to treat each other/clients/suppliers etc?  What happens when the pressure comes on?)

  4. Are meeting processes clearly defined and understood? (Who runs/how often/who takes minutes/facilitates?)

  5. Are your communication processes clearly understood? (Is everyone ‘on the same page’?)

  6. Have you identified your individual and collective team skills - current and required? (Have you got the right people/skill sets in the right positions to fulfill the Vision/Mission and a plan to bridge the skill gaps you have?)

  7. Do you have clear strategies and action plans that align with the Vision/Mission/Values? (Some gaps will become obvious very quickly - enabling you to come up with a plan to fill those gaps)

  8. Are there clear and measurable performance indicators and a recognition process in place? (People like to know if they are doing a good job beyond the old school “If you don’t hear from me all is well”!)

To facilitate meaningful discussions around these questions will evoke creative ideas and help the team behave as a co-creative unit that not only takes full responsibility for it's performance but enhances the level of ‘ownership’ in the process.  Of course you need a safe space in which to have these conversations so facilitate  them in ways that engage the players in shaping their own destiny.  We are all responsible for the cultures we create to work in.  Make your team attractive by being the kind of team people want to join - not just because of the functions the team performs, but because of the way it performs them.

Whenever I talk to groups about their experiences of teams - often far more ‘teamus horribilus’ stories come out than highlights - we all know what makes good teams great, our challenge is to stop waiting for others to change so we have a great team, and instead learn our team-mates (like a subject you are interested in - what makes them tick, what do they need in order to perform and grow?), embrace our differences, play to our strengths and have a grand old time achieving great results from our toil.  True teamwork is a joy to be a part of - collective effort and collective shared reward and satisfaction.  To experience it requires each person to feel valued and respected as an integral part of the Whole.

If you want to chat about your team environment and how it could be enhanced, contact us at info@amandafleming.co.nz  - we are here to be of service and we know what works.  Teams that can learn together - can earn together! (whatever the currency).

Amanda Fleming
p: +64 21 357753
e: info@amandafleming.co.nz
a: PO Box 56064
Dominion Road
Mt Eden
AUCKLAND