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Team
Building
Working in teams has
been the major contributor to my success. I am heavily
reliant on others. No matter where we live, work or
socialise, we all rely on other people. No one is an
island or completely self-sufficient in themselves.
Relying on others can save or lose an enormous amount of
your time. If we use our assertiveness and listening
skills with those on whom we rely, in a brief encounter,
i.e. shop keepers, doctors, bus drivers and others, we
will make friends and save time.
Operating as a team is one of the
most successful time savers and is the way forward in
today's highly competitive world market. The world's
most successful organisations all have one major thing
in common, they operate as a team. Additionally the most
successful families today function as a team, rather
than a group of individuals. Ten people working as
individuals will achieve less and spend more time, than
ten people in agreement and working as a team.
WHAT IS A TEAM?
You are not a team simply because you:
live with
a beautiful partner
live with ten wonderful children
spend all your time with your best friend
work in the same organisation
share the same boss with all the people in your
department
You are a member of a team when you
and other individuals:
agree, set clear challenging goals, make plans with
deadlines and are
committed to one another to produce extraordinary
performances and results.
BARRIERS TO
EFFECTIVE TEAMWORK
Always remember the number one rule.
To be successful you must first know your enemies, the
strategies they use and how to overcome them. They are
as follows:
Ineffective leadership
Unclear objectives
Poor strategic planning
No appraisal or evaluation
Procrastination
Unclear rules, systems and procedures
Poor communication and interaction
Lack of resources
Lack of co-operation or commitment
Outside distraction and influences
Personal agendas
Slow problem solving and decision making
Difficulty in managing change
Inappropriate behaviour
Lack of knowledge and skill
Partiality
Gossip
Difference of opinion
Insubordination
Poor working conditions and environment
Selfishness
Disloyalty
Lack of trust
Disharmony
No rewards
List in order of priority on the
right, barriers to effective teamwork, all of the areas
that hinder effective teamwork to your team. Put 1
beside the area that you have the most difficulty with,
then 2 and so on. Your team members may be at home, work
or your friends. List other difficulties that you face. All the barriers to effective
teamwork can be eliminated by observing the following
points:
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Training |
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1 |
See training as a
top priority investment. |
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2 |
Train every
individual and the team as a whole. |
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Effective Leading |
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1 |
Listen and lead
by example. |
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2 |
Encourage and
support everyone in your team. |
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3 |
Produce leaders
greater than yourself. |
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Action
Planning and Organising |
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1 |
Always work from
a plan. |
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2 |
Do not allow Mr &
Mrs Procrastinator to settle down. |
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3
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Review and
appraise your plan as regularly as possible. |
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Motivating and
Rewarding |
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1
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Be a role model
who is convicted, committed and enthusiastic. |
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2
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Appoint sub
leaders and always reward. |
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3
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Give clear
responsibilities, agree standards and set
targets. |
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Building
Relationship |
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1
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Be trustworthy,
provide friendship and listen effectively. |
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2
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Be patient with
one another. |
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Uniting |
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1
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Work towards
oneness, co-operation and togetherness. |
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2
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Involve the team in problem
solving and decision making. |
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Informing and
Communicating |
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1
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Be clear,
specific and direct. |
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2
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Without proper
information your organisation or home will
suffer. |
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Locating
and Eliminating Outside Distraction |
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1
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Be aware of government
policies, environmental issues, organisational
changes and other influences. |
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2
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Locate and
eliminate anything that distracts your team from
achieving its goals. |
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Disciplining |
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1
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Communicate
the rules, procedures, systems and accepted
behaviour to everyone and be decisive.
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2 |
Treat everyone
equally. |
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3 |
Solve problems
quickly. |
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Integrity |
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1
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Be honest and
faithful at all times. |
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2
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Treat everyone
the way you want to be treated. |
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Neutralising
and Controlling Your Feelings |
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1
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Be open, calm,
self controlled and do not get heated or
emotional. |
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2
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Always control
the way you think, feel and act. |
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Goals and
Values |
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1
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Goals should be
written and agreed by all. |
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2
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Never take your
eyes off your goals and values. |
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3
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Do not make
decisions that go against your goals and values. |
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