Tough projects, aggressive goals, limited resources and huge roadblocks are always getting in the way of your success. Plus you have to deal with managing the attitudes, actions, and behaviors of a team? Geez!
Over the years, I have developed the following guidelines that I have found to be successful while managing and coaching teams. If you are not already using these, go ahead and TRY them. I promise you will create a winning team!
1. Define roles and responsibilities. Not only do people want a clear understanding of where they fit in, but they also want others to know what they do and vice versa. Provide clarity when lines of responsibility become blurred.
2. Recognize strengths and capitalize on them. Allow and encourage rising stars to go above and beyond. Motivate employees by leveraging their strengths. Acknowledge accomplishments!
3. Provide focus, alignment and get buy-in. Employees who take part in creating a plan, own it. Ensure that goals are realistic and focus the team on the actions that will make the biggest difference to results. Above all else, make sure team is aligned under common goals.
4. Hold people accountable. People want to know that the leader will make tough decisions when others don’t play by the rules or uphold their commitments. Determine and enforce what is acceptable and what is not. Be fair and consistent.
5. Walk the talk. Provide clarity and understanding of your mission. Live it and get others excited and proud to be a part of it. Enthusiasm is contagious.
6. Communicate, communicate, and communicate. Be open and honest in all communications. Prompt discussions and share information from the top down and the bottom up. And don’t forget to LISTEN!
7. Give opportunities to influence, impact and make a difference. In today's fast-paced world, to be effective, you need to know how to adapt to and drive change. Allow others to develop ideas to improve, evolve and innovate.
8. Set a good example. Strong leaders are good mentors and coaches to their teams. Employees want to learn and grow. Pass on your knowledge, learnings and always remember the golden rule “do to others what you would like to be done to you".
9. Be authentic no matter what your strengths or personality traits. Employees know when you are NOT being REAL. It’s okay to human, but also remember that a strong leader will always keep the best interest of the organization top of mind.
10. Trust and encourage your team. Empower your employees and give them the autonomy they need to achieve results.
Any other tips, suggestions, ideas you want to share with others? Let's help each other experience the rewards of being a strong and successful leader!
For additional help in developing a strong team and driving results, email donna.king@bestyearyet.com to learn about the Best Year Yet Programs.
Showing posts with label alignment. Show all posts
Showing posts with label alignment. Show all posts
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
How Aligned is Your Team?
Take a moment to think about your team.
Consider each of the following statements and then rate your team as follows: 1 = never 2 = rarely 3 = about half the time 4 = most of the time 5 = all the time
1. We have a strategic plan and we're making progress on it.
1 2 3 4 5
2. Members of the team are open and honest with one another.
1 2 3 4 5
3. We work well together.
1 2 3 4 5
4. We know what our priorities are.
1 2 3 4 5
5. You can count on us to stick to our priorities.
1 2 3 4 5
6. When we agree to something in a meeting, we all demonstrate this decision outside the room.
1 2 3 4 5
7. We are one another's biggest fans - we each have the full support of the team.
1 2 3 4 5
8. The team puts the goals and needs of the team ahead of our personal agenda.
1 2 3 4 5
Add your responses to determine your Total Score ___
Total score is 8 - 15
Your team has a lot of work to do. When you're faced with a situation such as yours, it's almost impossible to achieve good results or deliver your promises. Perhaps yours is a new team which is just getting started. But maybe you've been at it for a long time and there's more baggage under the table than out in the open. In either case, get to work soon.
Best Year Yet is designed to get issues out in the open and to make sure everyone is heard in the process. Most importantly you need a Strategic Plan to focus and motivate your people. During the Best Year Yet Workshop there are Ground Rules to ensure an environment of safety and good common sense. The team works on its Lessons, puts the hidden issues to rest and then aligns on their Strategic Plan for the next 12 months. But it doesn't stop there. The team Best Year Yet day is followed by a half day in which each member of your team creates his personal strategic plan incorporating personal and professional goals aligned with the team plan. Each month we meet to make sure that everyone is doing their part to achieve the plan, make needed corrections and then move on developing new behaviors and producing a new level of results.
Total score is 16 - 24
Your team is doing better than some. But, as you know, it's difficult to work in an atmosphere in which trust and co-operation are lacking. It's impossible to generate real growth in the absence of a Strategic Plan. It is possible to transform your business, to raise this score and to become a top company again. But until there is FOCUS, ALIGNMENT and MOTIVATION, you're not going to move forward.Best Year Yet is designed to get hidden issues out in the open while making sure everyone is heard in the process. During the Workshop there are Ground Rules to ensure an environment of safety and good common sense. The team works on its Lessons, puts the hidden issues to rest and aligns on their Strategic Plan for the next 12 months. And we don't stop until there is genuine ALIGNMENT and enthusiasm for the plan. But it doesn't stop there. The team Best Year Yet day is followed by a half day in which each member of your team creates his personal strategic plan incorporating personal and professional goals aligned with the team plan. Each month we'll meet to make sure that everyone is doing their part to achieve the plan, make needed corrections and then move forward developing new behaviors and producing a new level of results.
Total score is 25 - 32
We strongly recommend that you consider the Best Year Yet program to accomplish this next step. The workshop and follow-up process are designed to get these issues out in the open while making sure everyone is heard. During the Workshop there are Ground Rules to ensure an environment of safety and good common sense. The team works on its lessons, puts the hidden issues to rest and aligns on their Strategic Plan for the next 12 months. And we don't stop until everyone is ALIGNED with this plan. But it doesn't stop there. The team Best Year Yet day is followed by a half day in which each member of your team creates his personal strategic plan incorporating personal and professional goals aligned with the team plan. Each month we'll meet to make sure that everyone is doing their part to achieve the plan, make needed corrections and then move on developing new behaviors and producing a new level of results.
Total score is 33 - 40
Congratulations! Your team is near peak performance. You have a gift, so do your best to appreciate it and use it. But don't get complacent. If you've achieved so much already, imagine what's possible. And no business in the current economic environment can afford to relax for a minute. If you choose to use the Best Year Yet program, you'll give yourself the best possible chance to reach new levels of performance and enjoyment. Given your current development, this could be perfect for you. It takes only one day to define your next set of lessons, rid yourselves of limiting assumptions and ALIGN on your next mountain to climb! But it doesn't stop there. The team Best Year Yet day is followed by a half day in which each member of your team creates his or her personal strategic plan incorporating personal and professional goals aligned with the team plan. Each month we'll meet to make sure that everyone is doing their part to achieve the plan, make needed corrections and then move on developing new behaviors and producing a new level of result.
For more information on the benefits of the Best Year Yet individual, team and organization-wide Programs, contact donna.king@bestyearyet.com.
Consider each of the following statements and then rate your team as follows: 1 = never 2 = rarely 3 = about half the time 4 = most of the time 5 = all the time
1. We have a strategic plan and we're making progress on it.
1 2 3 4 5
2. Members of the team are open and honest with one another.
1 2 3 4 5
3. We work well together.
1 2 3 4 5
4. We know what our priorities are.
1 2 3 4 5
5. You can count on us to stick to our priorities.
1 2 3 4 5
6. When we agree to something in a meeting, we all demonstrate this decision outside the room.
1 2 3 4 5
7. We are one another's biggest fans - we each have the full support of the team.
1 2 3 4 5
8. The team puts the goals and needs of the team ahead of our personal agenda.
1 2 3 4 5
Add your responses to determine your Total Score ___
Total score is 8 - 15
Your team has a lot of work to do. When you're faced with a situation such as yours, it's almost impossible to achieve good results or deliver your promises. Perhaps yours is a new team which is just getting started. But maybe you've been at it for a long time and there's more baggage under the table than out in the open. In either case, get to work soon.
Best Year Yet is designed to get issues out in the open and to make sure everyone is heard in the process. Most importantly you need a Strategic Plan to focus and motivate your people. During the Best Year Yet Workshop there are Ground Rules to ensure an environment of safety and good common sense. The team works on its Lessons, puts the hidden issues to rest and then aligns on their Strategic Plan for the next 12 months. But it doesn't stop there. The team Best Year Yet day is followed by a half day in which each member of your team creates his personal strategic plan incorporating personal and professional goals aligned with the team plan. Each month we meet to make sure that everyone is doing their part to achieve the plan, make needed corrections and then move on developing new behaviors and producing a new level of results.
Total score is 16 - 24
Your team is doing better than some. But, as you know, it's difficult to work in an atmosphere in which trust and co-operation are lacking. It's impossible to generate real growth in the absence of a Strategic Plan. It is possible to transform your business, to raise this score and to become a top company again. But until there is FOCUS, ALIGNMENT and MOTIVATION, you're not going to move forward.Best Year Yet is designed to get hidden issues out in the open while making sure everyone is heard in the process. During the Workshop there are Ground Rules to ensure an environment of safety and good common sense. The team works on its Lessons, puts the hidden issues to rest and aligns on their Strategic Plan for the next 12 months. And we don't stop until there is genuine ALIGNMENT and enthusiasm for the plan. But it doesn't stop there. The team Best Year Yet day is followed by a half day in which each member of your team creates his personal strategic plan incorporating personal and professional goals aligned with the team plan. Each month we'll meet to make sure that everyone is doing their part to achieve the plan, make needed corrections and then move forward developing new behaviors and producing a new level of results.
Total score is 25 - 32
We strongly recommend that you consider the Best Year Yet program to accomplish this next step. The workshop and follow-up process are designed to get these issues out in the open while making sure everyone is heard. During the Workshop there are Ground Rules to ensure an environment of safety and good common sense. The team works on its lessons, puts the hidden issues to rest and aligns on their Strategic Plan for the next 12 months. And we don't stop until everyone is ALIGNED with this plan. But it doesn't stop there. The team Best Year Yet day is followed by a half day in which each member of your team creates his personal strategic plan incorporating personal and professional goals aligned with the team plan. Each month we'll meet to make sure that everyone is doing their part to achieve the plan, make needed corrections and then move on developing new behaviors and producing a new level of results.
Total score is 33 - 40
Congratulations! Your team is near peak performance. You have a gift, so do your best to appreciate it and use it. But don't get complacent. If you've achieved so much already, imagine what's possible. And no business in the current economic environment can afford to relax for a minute. If you choose to use the Best Year Yet program, you'll give yourself the best possible chance to reach new levels of performance and enjoyment. Given your current development, this could be perfect for you. It takes only one day to define your next set of lessons, rid yourselves of limiting assumptions and ALIGN on your next mountain to climb! But it doesn't stop there. The team Best Year Yet day is followed by a half day in which each member of your team creates his or her personal strategic plan incorporating personal and professional goals aligned with the team plan. Each month we'll meet to make sure that everyone is doing their part to achieve the plan, make needed corrections and then move on developing new behaviors and producing a new level of result.
For more information on the benefits of the Best Year Yet individual, team and organization-wide Programs, contact donna.king@bestyearyet.com.
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