Tips for effective team building
One way to build your business is by building the team. Developing your team should be an on-going process, because with staff turnover at record highs, it's likely that your team will be constantly changing. <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /?>
However, team leaders rarely take enough time to understand team members and find out the circumstances under which they perform best, so often teams will underachieve. When problems occur, many team leaders fail to put measures in place to make sure the same old issues don't return. These tips will help you create a successful team:
1. Celebrate your differences
The strongest teams are made up of people who have complementary skills. Some members are ideas people, some are doers, some are thinkers and others are supporters. Make sure your team is made up of a variety of types. However, be aware that differences in personalities can cause conflict, so learn to understand your team and teach them to value their different skills.
2. Support, not sabotage
Do you support team ideas and objectives or are you inclined to sabotage other people's plans because they aren't your own? Support is crucial to developing and maintaining group morale. If you don't agree, voice your objections, agree the way forward and then offer support.
3. Meet regularly Hold regular meetings to keep your team informed about what is going on in the company and what role each member plays. This will help motivate them and make them feel a valuable part of a team.
4. Improve communication
One of the main reasons for despondency is lack of communication. You can use a variety of ways to communicate, such as newsletters, noticeboards, meetings and messages. Make communication a two-way process and keep it consistent and ongoing.
5. Take initiative
Sometimes when a job has to be done, people think somebody else will do it, and as a result the job gets neglected. Make it a rule that if someone sees a job to do, they do it.
6. Have fun
Try to inject fun into everything you do. Find out what makes your team feel positive. It may be a joke each day on the noticeboard, a share-a-smile scheme or just your infectious good humour. Whatever it takes, do something to make your team feel happy.
7. Recognise the positives People are often guilty of noticing the negatives and taking the positives for granted. As well as pointing out the negatives, praise the positives and make sure people feel they belong to the group.
8. Believe in your team
Your expectations can affect your team's results. Do you expect failure or expect success? Make sure you have confidence in your team and give them a suitable period of time to get things in order.
9. Delegate, train and develop
Your team will become more effective if you let them take on more responsibility. Delegate tasks and give them training.
10. Have a focus
Work is easier if you have an aim. What are your business goals? Do your team know what they are? Share the company goals with your team and help them view the goals as their own. Then remember to share the results.
11. Lead by example
Remember you are a leader and people will follow you. What frame of mind are you in when you come into work and when you walk around? Your people may notice if you are in a bad mood and it could affect their work.
Produced by Caterer-online in association with learnpurple.
