Mueller - Creating synergy and teamwork

Teamwork. It is the word that strikes fear into many of today's managers. It can be a daunting task to create and inspire teamwork in the workplace. Yet, it seems to be the buzzword of management themes in the last several years.

As always, I recommend that a staff meeting can be a great place to set up some teamwork strategies for your workplace. First, sit down and define what teamwork will look like in your office. Make sure that everyone on the team can list a benefit of teamwork to themselves, as individuals on the team. Discuss these benefits out loud.

Then have everyone on the team list the possible benefits to the various departments, and then to the organization as a whole. Again, share ideas. By doing this, it will become apparent why teamwork is not only necessary, but also why teamwork will be beneficial. Remember, buy-in is important to establish cooperation. Everyone might want to examine what happens in the organization when teamwork is absent or not realized; once again- a good buy-in tool.

List organizational goals and objectives

We must make sure that we are all on the same page with these ideals. To function as a team, we must all know where we are going.

Look carefully at what would not get done if each person's job did not exist. This question leads the group to identify how one job activity contributes to the organizational goals and objectives. Then, we can examine how jobs are linked to one another, and how we interface. List examples.

It may be necessary to put this information in a flow chart-type diagram, especially if there are a lot of visual learners on the team. It is easy to see where teamwork is needed to complete a task or goal.

As a group, we can also talk about interpersonal conflicts that can arise when working together. Encourage participants to speak in example, and not finger point. Ask for solutions to the potential conflicts, and ask each participant for their idea on how to prevent them as a team.

As managers and supervisors, we must always set up our teams for success, not failure. We must look at the personalities of the team, and choose the people in such a way that they work with, and not against each other.

For example, the "right-brainers" (social, creative, big picture thinkers) are great at developing ideas. And the" left-brainers" (typically quieter, more linear, sequential thinkers) are great at implementation. So, it might be important to make sure there are both types of personalities on a certain team. We need some to create and envision, and others to put it on paper and make it happen.

Who are the leaders within our organizations? Which individuals possess the people skills to keep everybody together? Who is good with time management in the group? These people need to be distributed equitably in teams and committees.

People most valuable resource

At Dale Carnegie Training, we always recognize the human side of business. Sometimes it is important to get our teams out away from the workplace to get to know each other better. This could be just an occasional group lunch out, or a series of off-site workshops (delivered, of course, by Dale Carnegie Training). When people bond on a more personal note, they are better able to bond in the workplace, and they ultimately perform better as a team.

A visit to the bookstore can uncover books that deal with team-building exercises. It is fun and productive to do some of these occasionally at a staff or sales meeting. My two top picks are the "Games Trainers Play" series of books by Edward Scannell, and the "Fish" series by Stephen Lundin, John Christensen and Harry Paul. There are many others from which to select.

Basically, to achieve top performance as a team, people need to come together with a common purpose, to understand that purpose, and to be able to communicate effectively how they can move forward to achieve that purpose. Mix in a little fun and camaraderie, and performance and teamwork will increase

Sharon Mueller is the regional manager for Dale Carnegie Training. Dale Carnegie Training recently partnered with Metro Business College in Cape Girardeau. To find out more about this partnership and course offerings, call Mueller at 332-0900 or email at smueller@carnegiestl.com.