Professionalism

To have success in the business world, whether it is in a team setting or individually, professionalism is always an important asset to have.

Professionalism can set you apart from those individuals who don't have a high work ethic; it will help you obtain your dream job!

Some ways to show your level of professionalism include:

• Following the dress code and dressing appropriately for your job

• Using appropriate language when communicating either verbally or non verbally (i.e. email). At your workplace, it is very good practice to refrain from slang or negative comments in emails, voice mail messages or even when talking/answering the phone

• Body language can also convey professional behaviour. When you are speaking or listening to someone, do not roll your eyes or sigh. Make eye contact to show that you are interested in what they are saying to you

 

Dancing as a team

Like T-Mobile has shown us before, flash mobs are a wonderful way of showing us the results of truly working together as a team. Target did a good job with this one!

 

Productive Team Meetings

When having a team meeting, there is sometimes reluctance and negative feelings towards having them - they might seem boring, unorganized and unmotivating.

The purpose in having team meetings is to provide information to your staff/coworkers, brainstorm and provide an open forum in which people can relay their opinions.

Here are some tips to run a productive team meeting:

1. Create an agenda beforehand  - by doing this, it keeps the length of the meeting to a minimum and it helps keep the meeting organized. Often in my own company, I will distribute the agenda in advance of the meeting, so staff have time to review and add more items (if necessary)
2. Take meeting minutes - From my own experience working in an office, it is always a good idea to have someone keep minutes - this is helpful for staff to remember the outcome of the meetings and it is also a record of what was discussed
3. Keep the time of the meeting to a minimum - it is important for opinions to be voiced however, one of the reasons people get so bored and frustrated at meetings, is due to the length of time for the meeting. By having a shorter meeting, the intention is to not restrict time for people to voice their opinion but it is to keep the meeting moving in a timely fashion
4. Actively participate and bring a positive attitude - encourage your team members and motivate each other. As I've written previously in another blog, a positive attitude can be contagious!
5. Follow ups - in the meeting minutes after the meeting is done, it is a good idea to have a section stating who is responsible for completion of certain tasks that are discussed in the meeting. This holds individuals accountable 

Solving Team Conflicts

Conflict is inevitable when you are working with a group of individuals. Whether you are working on a report or presentation together, individuals will always have their own ideas to contribute.

A good leader knows that it is important that these conflicts are addressed and not dismissed, as it is almost always likely to make the situation worse. It results in unnecessary stress and negative team behaviour. Confrontation is not pleasant but the results will be a more efficient and organized team.

Some ways in solving team conflicts include:

• Actively Listen - it is vital to discuss the conflict in order to resolve it. Understand the issues being raised; it is sometimes difficult to understand the issue unless it is heard from a different point of view

• Cooperate and Compromise - in order to move forward as a team, it is important to try and resolve the conflict by presenting possible solutions that are fair for both parties. This may involve brainstorming and problem solving sessions. In order for the task at hand to be completed, there needs to be cooperation

• COMMUNICATION -  this is absolutely vital for any relationship to grow. Open communication leads to a positive work environment and results in the company or business to grow and flourish. Small business owners sometimes do not put enough emphasis on communication skills resulting in the company to go bankrupt. Open lines of communication are the key to success in any business

Effective Leadership

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RgdcljNV-Ew

Building Listening Skills

In being a part of any kind of relationship, it is highly beneficial to learn how to improve and build listening skills. Communication is always learning how to speak and listen; this is especially important when working in a team setting.




Here are some tips to build powerful listening skills:

1) Be in control of the environment around you and limit your distractions

• Limit the amount of distractions in the environment around you. If you need to have a business meeting, move to an area where there are fewer noises

2) Avoid interruptions

• Although you may not always agree with what a speaker may be saying, it is important to not convey any negative body language such as rolling your eyes or loudly sighing. Treat individuals with the respect you want and do not interrupt when someone is speaking

3)  Be active and take notes

• when you are listening to the meeting, makes notes for things you don't understand or that you are interested in learning more about. This helps show that you are interested and is also a valuable learning tool

4) Ask questions and ask for clarification

•  Asking questions are a good learning and listening tool and goes well in conjunction with taking notes and being an active participant in a meeting. It also shows the speaker and coworkers that you are taking an interest in what is being discussed in the meeting

5) Be open minded

• Try to be unbiased and open to ideas (including criticisms) from your fellow coworkers

 6) Identify facts from opinions and Identify the important facts

• make sure that the information on the topic you are discussing is credible. It is also valuable to your audience to identify the important facts that may affect them or that may be a point of interest to them

7) Paraphrase

• whether you are running a meeting or just participating in one,  paraphrase the information you are relaying/receiving. It is again a good listening and learning skill to make notes in your own words so you can easily absorb the information and retain it

8) Capitalize on Lag Time

• Use lag time to remain attentive on the purpose and the information provided in the meeting. Sometime it is easy to loose your train of thought so it is important to stay focused

References
Guffey, M. (2011). Business Communication: Process and Product. Toronto: Nelson Education.
 

Spaghetti and Marshmallows Challenge!

At first when you hear it, the Spaghetti and Marshmallow Challenge sounds like an odd combination but it turns out to provide great insight into the world of team building.

In the video below, it talks about the challenges of working and collaborating as a team. This challenge asks that a team take 20 sticks of spaghetti, 1 yard of tape, 1 yard of string and 1 marshmallow, in order to build the tallest freestanding structure.. The catch....the marshmallow must be placed on top of this structure and you and your team have only 18 minutes to complete this task.

This challenge helps teach exercises to improve our ability to collaborate and be creative under deadlines and also pushes to recognize the true value of a diversity in a team setting.

I encourage you to watch the video as you might be surprised as to which group excels and which does not.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H0_yKBitO8M

Positive Team Behaviour!

“As you enter this place of work please choose to make today a great day. Your colleagues, customers, team members, and you yourself will be thankful. Find ways to play. We can be serious about our work without being serious about ourselves. Stay focused in order to be present when your customers and team members most need you. And should you feel your energy lapsing, try this surefire remedy: Find someone who needs a helping hand, a word of support, or a good ear - and make their day.”

― Stephen C. Lundi (from the book "Fish!: A Proven Way to Boost Morale and Improve Results")

 

In order to develop a strong and effective team, it is vital for every team member to exhibit positive behaviour and attitudes. This task is sometime easier said that done but the results are undeniable.

 

What does positive team behaviour entail?

•  showing respect and proper listening skills to your other teammates
•  clearly defining problems and providing constructive and realistic solutions
•  encouragement of other team members thoughts and ideas. Give positive feedback!

I recently read a book entitled "Fish! A Proven Way to Boost Morale and Improve Results" which was a great book that tells the story of a manager who is trying to make her department an effective, positive team. It addresses the current issues facing most departments (i.e. burnout, feelings of being unappreciated) and it talks about some of the struggles in trying to remain positive in a team setting and also how to be a positive and energetic team player. 

 

You must remember that your team is working towards a common goal and that everyone plays an important role in order for that team to function.  A positive attitude is contagious :)

Successful Team Building

In any company, it is always a good idea to have to a strong team but it doesn't often come easily. Team building, like anything else, takes time and patience but one may ask....

What are some characteristics in building an effective team?

Size and Diversity

• Teams can range in any size but an ideal size is anywhere from 4 to 6 people. It is very difficult to be constructive and communicate in larger groups

• It is always a great idea to have a diverse group of people on your team whether it is different gender, race, religion, social background, etc.  A diverse group provides feedback and ideas from different points of view that you might not have previously thought of. It allows for a broader range of ideas and creativity 

Agreement on Purpose and Procedures

• Teams are typically formed with a purpose or goal in mind. It is beneficial that the team agrees and understands what the purpose of the team is and by doing so, the discussions and actions will be more meaningful

• Having procedures and structure to the team is critical. Procedures should be set in place at the beginning before any further actions and discussions are put into place

Confronting Conflicts and Avoiding Competition

• In a successful team, conflicts are unavoidable. It is important that these conflicts are task oriented and not person oriented, which sometimes can be. Conflict should be dealt with once it comes up (in a team or in your life) otherwise it distracts you from what you are doing and can take up much energy that could have been refocused on more productive things. It is important to "air out" the room if there are conflicts
• As a team, try to strive to achieve the goal of the group and not just yourself. Avoid competition as it may lead to conflicts

Ethical Responsibilities

• As a team, you have a responsibility to your company and society that your actions are ethically responsible and would not endanger anyone or anything

Shared Leadership and Good Communication Skills

• Often in team activities, the role of the leader of the group is rotated, allowing equal opportunities for all team members to test our their leadership skills. However, in times of crisis, it is a good idea to designate one individual as the leader
• Good communication skills are learned and it can only be improved with trial and error. This may lead to conflicts but its the act of proper communication that a team can achieve their goal. In a good team, you should be able to freely expression your opinion and even encourage each other positively. This can be done verbally or even through body language

In my opinion, all of this comes down to good and proper communication and cooperation. If you don't have the ability to communicate, none of these characteristics could happen.

"Teamwork is the ability to work together toward a common vision. The ability to direct individual accomplishments toward organizational objectives. It is the fuel that allows common people to attain uncommon results" 
                                                                                                     - Andrew Carnegie
 
Teamwork is a definite asset in today's world of business and education but it is a acquired skill, one which can be very difficult to improve and can be very challenging. Every work environment is different and there are always different personalities that you may have to work with.

At my work place, I run a department so I am always interested in getting more feed back on building a successful team and I admit that it can be very difficult at time but the perseverance often has AMAZING results. 

What do you think is good characteristic to have in order to build a successful team? I'd love to hear them :)




REFERENCES
30 Top Team Building Quotes. Retrieved from http://www.leadership-with-you.com/team-building-quotes.html