BUILDING AN ESTEEMED TEAM©

By Betsy A. Haas, MA

Most of us have experienced how the synergy of a highly functioning “esteemed team”, can produce results well beyond those attainable by individuals. This is because an “esteemed team” creates results!

There is still a lot of truth to the old saying, “Into every life some rain must fall.” Adversity and problems in our lives cannot be avoided. Unfortunately, not only are they capable of reeking great havoc in our personal lives, their impact is also usually felt the strongly in the business world and in business relationships.

Mishandling of problems by individual employees can cause the entire organization to stumble and fall. Recognition of this concept can make or break a company and it is here where successful management steps up to the plate and realizes that an “esteemed team” is essential to any successful organization. By treating each team member as a you-nique individual, and by nurturing and investing time into each and every team member’s specific needs, an “esteemed team” will be in place, and any potential bleeding can be prevented. Continued quality customer service then becomes the positive outcome of happy, healthy, well-nurtured and productive employees.

As our world becomes more complex, it is teams, not individuals that have become the basic building blocks of today's workforce. Yes... teams or groups of diverse people, overcoming all conflicts, pooling together their skills, talents and knowledge to reach a common goal. Amazingly most team members are often not equal in age, education, experience or talent. They do all have one common thread, however, and that is their commitment to the good of the organization. This is the glue that creates positive results because it pulls everything together, gets everybody working and rowing in the same direction, and keeps everyone's eye on the same prize. That is an “esteemed team”.

In an “esteemed team”, the dignity and worth of every single individual is respected. Each individual opinion is worthwhile, each individual feels good about themselves, and as a result the whole team functions successfully. In a highly functioning team, new ideas are supported, promoted, then successfully developed and implemented into creative solutions.

There are seven essential ingredients that must be in place for a team to be effective. When teams go awry we tend to look on the surface for the problem, but the source of the breakdown always lies in one or more of these underlying principles. The only way to get the team back on the road to success is to stop, put it up on the board and analyze which one (or more) of these seven components needs a tune-up.

1. Commitment to Creating a Common-Unity

As we all know real teamwork flows from an atmosphere of trust. Every feeling an individual has within themself is based on their interpretation of what things mean to them. When a basic sense of trust within team members is missing, animosity between team members will appear and both the team vision and the mission can become distorted.

Animosity and negative energy can snowball into rumors and gossip -- making the "water cooler" conversation all about team members, rather than the task at hand. When negative situations like this happen, it is important for team members to not get sidetracked and keep the goal (vision) in sight. Attitudes do make THE difference in carrying out the mission!

In order to avoid this lack of trust and have a successful team, there must be a strong sense of community. It must be a place where members feel they BELONG, a place where they feel that they fit in, a place where each member feels a sense of ownership, and that they are part of something that is bigger than they are. In a successful team, each member feels special, and each member contributes to the team's success by applying his or her you-nique talents to each and every objective.

It is a place where specific goals and objectives are clearly spelled out and unanimous agreements are developed on which direction needs to be taken to accomplish the team's vision - i.e. - WHAT the goals and objectives are about, and the team’s mission - i.e - HOW the team is going to create it.

Working together as a team is imperative for meeting the challenges of providing extraordinary customer service. Let's face it…the first and foremost responsibility of every employee is to better serve its customers!

2. Models

Effective team members emulate or imitate the healthy role models within the group therefore powerful role models are a must in an “esteemed team”.

In an “esteemed team”, these team members have specific strengths from which other members learn. For example, one person may be the model of positive attitude while another member may provide attention to detail. These team members are respected as role models because they embody an ideal way of being in a particular area.

Unfortunately, teams sometimes get caught up in focusing on the negative characteristics of some of its members. This too is an example of focusing on each other as role models even though it's focusing on what is not working, on what the liabilities of each player has, rather than on his or her assets. We always have choices and it's only the break through, “esteemed team”, that succeeds by realizing early on that focusing on the model, be it positive or negative, is simply a clear mirror of what each player either likes or dislikes about themselves. Accepting that the personality characteristics we see in each other are the characteristics we either like or dislike about ourselves. If we don't possess these characteristics, there is no way that we can see them in others.

Effective role models are the one's that encourage open and honest communication, the one's that make it a practice to understand each member's point of view. “Esteemed Teams” consciously build a climate of trust where feelings, opinions and even disagreements are welcomed. That's why we coach team members to be careful to choose what they focus on because they are truly judging themselves!

3. Purpose

Keep the focus on the vision! Do a diagnostic assessment to figure out what must be done to correct the problem in carrying this vision out. Learn to respond to others in an objective manner by being open and honest to new ideas, concerns and values. Deal with the current situation to get things moving, then go back and look at the real issues. Remember, you’re trying to fix the problem, not fix the blame! If every team member is not rowing in synch with each other, it’s going to be extremely difficult for everyone to arrive at the same destination at same time.

In fact, nothing will happen unless the team establishes a clear vision and goes for it. When the team is not in focus, rather than “ready, aim, fire”; it becomes “ready, fire, aim.” Issues become distorted and the vision blurred. Make time management a priority, as team members begin spending their time on tasks that are not relevant to the end product. Team members’ fall short of their goals, by not recognizing and taking responsibility when serious damage is being done, which of course, causes the blame game to begin. Prioritizing then becomes unimportant and thus the smaller, easier tasks get done while the larger more complex and important tasks move to the bottom of the list. Remember - if a topic is not relevant to the success of the vision don’t talk about it. Keep in mind that your ultimate success will be reflected in a better quality of life for your employees as well as your community.

4. Competence

A team must have players who collectively possess all the skills necessary to accomplish its vision. In particular, the team leader must be competent. One way this is demonstrated is in the team selection process. Once the requisite skills are in place, team confidence soars, unleashing creativity. Team members who are closer to the work are usually better at implementing the plans needed to create the desired solutions to your most difficult problems. It also gives the rest of the team a chance to become part of the learning process. True ownership by the team improves the quality of the work product by 75%. Matching the skills needed to the specific skills of the teammate that already exists creates an opportunity for growth in a direction that the person is already interested in. This must be a conscious decision.

When people feel unconfident in their abilities, they are most often wrestling with the discomfort of making a decision and often try and hide this fact by doing tasks by themselves. The results are less than professional because a decision is an activity of the mind and the mind is designed to change. However, the real problem arises when these people don’t ask for help and try to merely “bluff” their way through a situation. It’s also why it’s vitally important that you commit yourself to the group. Everyone needs the opportunity to express his or her strengths and weaknesses in a manner that can be developed and utilized. This way team members become part of the learning process and more expert in the areas they enjoy. The whole team wins!

5. Significance

When a team knows they are significant enough that they make THE difference rather than A difference, they tend to be more responsible for the outcome of creating the vision of the organization. They know that their expertise and commitment are valuable because their participation fulfills their need to fit in, to be part of something bigger. To feel that glow of pride that comes from knowing that what they are doing is advantageous to the people they serve (i.e. it makes THE difference!). At a minimum, they need to know that the importance of their contribution to the organization is worth their effort because, believe it or not, it truly is a reflection of the values we live by as we pursue our vision. Realize that every member must be willing to grow and improve to be part of the organization. In most cases teams are driven by THE difference they are making to some entity even larger than their organization (family, school system, industry, city, state, world, etc.)

We live in a society that continuously berates THE positive difference we make. When we live our lives inauthentically, the world – our world becomes tumultuous. Creative teams, the ones that produce tangible, viable results are able to feel when there is a breakdown. This occurs when there is a breech of trust that makes team members feel both worthless and unappreciated. Starting a chain reaction where other team members feel the pressure to pick up the pieces to cover for their teammate is stressful. This can easily spiral into resentment due to the increased workload and create burnout. We are more fearful of our powerfulness than we are of our insignificance. By standing in THE difference we do make…we demonstrate to others that THE difference they make can and does create phenomenal results!

6. Follow Through

Know that your new plans are being put into action by communicating with your employees because they are the first to know when plans go off track. Make sure management recognizes that everything they do affects what goes on in an organization. Although it takes constant communication, never forget to ask how are things going. Employees are encouraged to do their best when they feel they have the support of the company behind them. Follow-up and follow-through are the best motivators a team can have because it gives everyone the opportunity to see the progress they are making.

Maintaining an efficient and effective business takes a complete understanding of what the organization is all about and what your employees are doing to make it happen. Never forget that personal and professional goals are always best accomplished through the mutual trust and support of both staff and management. This is the cornerstone of creating any positive relationship. Trust & Support + Customer Service & Enthusiasm = Success! Everybody wins with a “yippy skippy”attitude. People want to play on teams where follow-through is guaranteed.

7. Success

No other word may be as hard to define as success, but attaining the goals you set for yourself comes pretty close. Whether it’s through business or financial gain success is measured in terms of personal achievement. Once a team is winning and seeing the successful results of their work, they are more likely to stretch even further to create and meet the next level of challenge and success. When this synergy begins, teams are unstoppable because setting and continually reaching their goals are empowering! Teams accomplish what’s really important by staying organized and focused. Attaining the clarity, balance and peace of mind needed to overcome any and all procrastination’s on the way to increasing your organization’s productivity is a successful esteemed team. Most importantly members are committed to their teammates winning as well.

All organizations can be successful if they provide their customers with what they want, but in practical terms it’s the smooth running team that gives it to them. They embody the “special value” that represents your organization. Breaking the failure cycle takes intention and powerful commitment by the entire team. One cannot be 100% enthused and energetic while the rest of the team is dragging. Energy is infectious. Negative energy flushes through a system twice as fast as positive energy. This creates a need for team building in a way that enrolls all members back into the vision. A simple breakdown of the team can turn into either a wonderful breakthrough or success creating further movement, or into a huge dramatic blowout. Success is the payoff we receive from conscious hard work and group cohesiveness. Success breeds success!

Martin Rutte states: “You have to do it yourself, but you can’t do it alone!” Teamwork is a combination of communication, intention and commitment. Whether a team is effective or not can be diagnosed by the seven ingredients mentioned above. Once we realize which area is in need of an adjustment, we have the tools and the skills to build an “esteemed team”. The choice lies in the synergist energies of each member being discovered and utilized to create the best results possible. These results include that each member of the team feels nurtured and valued for who they are and what they contribute. More simply said…. “Teamwork is a make it or break it situation. Either you help make it or the lack of it will break you!”

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