Donadio's PowerTools For Success - PowerTool Number Five

D O N A D I O PowerTools For Success ™

D - Develop Teamwork

The D O N A D I O PowerTools ™ are seven skills that will help you manage better and operate a successful business.

I heard someone say that the word TEAM stands for Together Everyone Accomplishes More. Let me share some ways you might do this.

	D	Delegate
	O	Open Communications
	N	Need for Creativity
	A	Appreciation
	D	Develop Teamwork
	I	Interest
	O	Organize/Plan

A team works together to support each other toward the achieving of a common goal. Remind your people they are part of a team (family) and they can count on you for support when they need it. To develop an effective team:

Have balance. A good team is one that has a balance of people. Diversity allows for different perspectives, growth and new ideas.

Set team goals. If possible align individual goals with team goals. Set team goals that are specific, achievable and realistic. If goals are vague or unattainable, they may de-motivate rather than motivate the team.

Share information with members. What people aren't up on, they are down on. Keep members informed. Sharing information gives members a sense of community.

Share credit for successes. Thank those who helped you and share the credit. Be more concerned with the successes of others. This is a good way to foster cooperation.

Reward teamwork. Discuss the benefits of working as a team. Set up rewards that recognize team effort as well as the individual.

Be a coach. Acting like a coach rather than a drill sergeant will foster a team environment. Reinforce the view that each member contributes to the success of the team. Pep them up and keep them moving in the same direction. Lead by example.

Use Occasional Competition. This is a good way to build team spirit. A word of caution: Stay away from having people competing against each other. This can backfire. Instead, set up competitions against other organizations or compete to achieve and beat specific goals. For example: to increase revenues by 10%; to reduce our accident level below the national average.

The secret to building a good team is for people to support and help each other. As a leader we need to take an active interest in our people. As Zig Ziglar says, "People don't care how much you know till they know how much you care!" Next time we will look at PowerTool Number 6 - Interest