The first key to building an effective team is clarity of purpose and direction. As the old saying goes, If you don’t know where you’re going, how will you know when you when you’ve gotten there?
A team’s purpose is sometimes referred to as its “charter” or “mission.” The label doesn’t really matter. Whatever you call it, you have to decide why you’re in business as a team. It may be to lead and manage an organization or to solve a particular problem. Perhaps it’s to coordinate efforts across functions in your company or plan a large and important meeting. Your purpose need not be complicated, but it does need to be clear and understood by everyone involved.
Here are some questions to help pinpoint your team’s purpose:
• What is the objective for this team?
• What key issues will the team address?
• What will be the key activities of the team?
• What are the parameters and authority of the team?
• What are the team’s key deliverables?
• What is the timing of those key deliverables?
Answer these questions and your team will be off to a great start!
Friday, July 30, 2010
Thursday, July 29, 2010
'The person who loves others will also
A long time ago in China , a girl named Li-Li got married & went to live
> with her husband and mother-in-law. In a very short time, Li-Li found that
> she couldn't get along with her mother-in-law at all. Their personalities
> were very different, and Li-Li was angered by many of her mother-in-law's
> habits. In addition, she criticized Li-Li
> constantly. Days passed, and weeks passed. Li-Li and her mother-in-law never
> stopped arguing and fighting. But what made the situation even worse was
> that, according to ancient Chinese tradition, Li-Li had to bow to
> her mother-in-law and obey her every wish. All the anger and unhappiness in
> the house was causing Li-Li's poor husband great distress.
> Finally, Li-Li could not stand her mother-in-law's bad temper and
> dictatorship any longer, and she decided to do something about it! Li-Li
> went to see her father's good friend, Mr. Huang, who sold herbs. She told
> him the situation and asked if he would give her some poison so that she
> could solve the problem once and for all.
> Mr. Huang thought for awhile, and finally said, 'Li-Li, I will help you
> solve your problem, but you must listen to me and obey what I tell you.'
> Li-Li said, 'Yes, Mr. Huang, I will do whatever you tell me to do 'Mr. Huang
> went into the back room, and returned in a few minutes with a package of
> herbs. He told Li-Li, 'You can't use a quick-acting poison to get rid of
> your mother-in-law, because that would cause people to become suspicious
> Therefore, I have given you a number of herbs that will slowly build up
> poison in her body. Every other day prepare some delicious meal and put a
> little of these herbs in her serving. Now, in order to make sure that nobody
> suspects you, when she dies, you must be very careful to act very friendly
> towards her. 'Don't argue with her, obey her every wish, and treat her like
> a queen.' Li-Li was so happy. She thanked Mr. Huang and hurried home to
> start her plot of murdering her mother-in-law. Weeks went by, and months
> went by, and every other day, Li-Li served the specially treated food to her
> mother-in-law. She remembered what Mr. Huang had said about avoiding
> suspicion, so she controlled her temper! , obeyed her mother-in-law, and
> treated her like her own mother.
> After six months had passed, the whole household had changed.. Li-Li had
> practiced controlling her temper so much that she found that she almost
> never got mad or upset. She hadn't had an argument with her mother-in-law in
> six months because she now seemed much kinder and easier to get along with.
> The mother-in-law's attitude toward Li-Li changed, and she began to love
> Li-Li like her own daughter. She kept telling friends and relatives that
> Li-Li was the best daughter-in-law one could ever find. Li-Li and her
> mother-in-law were now treating each other like a real mother and daughter.
> Li-Li's husband was very happy to see what was happening. One day, Li-Li
> came to see Mr. Huang and asked for his help again She said, 'Dear Mr.
> Huang, please help me to keep the poison from killing my mother-in-law.
> She's changed into such a nice woman, and I love her like my own mother. I
> do not want her to die because of the poison I gave her.'
> Mr. Huang smiled and nodded his head. 'Li-Li, there's nothing to worry
> about. I never gave you any poison. The herbs I gave you were vitamins to
> improve her health. The only poison was in your mind and your attitude
> toward her, but that has been all washed away by the love which you gave to
> her.'
> HAVE YOU REALIZED that how you treat others is exactly how they will treat
> you? There is a wise Chinese saying: 'The person who loves others will also
> be loved in return.' God might be trying to work in another person's life
> through you. Send this to your friends and spread the love..
> 'A candle loses nothing if it is used to light another one'
> with her husband and mother-in-law. In a very short time, Li-Li found that
> she couldn't get along with her mother-in-law at all. Their personalities
> were very different, and Li-Li was angered by many of her mother-in-law's
> habits. In addition, she criticized Li-Li
> constantly. Days passed, and weeks passed. Li-Li and her mother-in-law never
> stopped arguing and fighting. But what made the situation even worse was
> that, according to ancient Chinese tradition, Li-Li had to bow to
> her mother-in-law and obey her every wish. All the anger and unhappiness in
> the house was causing Li-Li's poor husband great distress.
> Finally, Li-Li could not stand her mother-in-law's bad temper and
> dictatorship any longer, and she decided to do something about it! Li-Li
> went to see her father's good friend, Mr. Huang, who sold herbs. She told
> him the situation and asked if he would give her some poison so that she
> could solve the problem once and for all.
> Mr. Huang thought for awhile, and finally said, 'Li-Li, I will help you
> solve your problem, but you must listen to me and obey what I tell you.'
> Li-Li said, 'Yes, Mr. Huang, I will do whatever you tell me to do 'Mr. Huang
> went into the back room, and returned in a few minutes with a package of
> herbs. He told Li-Li, 'You can't use a quick-acting poison to get rid of
> your mother-in-law, because that would cause people to become suspicious
> Therefore, I have given you a number of herbs that will slowly build up
> poison in her body. Every other day prepare some delicious meal and put a
> little of these herbs in her serving. Now, in order to make sure that nobody
> suspects you, when she dies, you must be very careful to act very friendly
> towards her. 'Don't argue with her, obey her every wish, and treat her like
> a queen.' Li-Li was so happy. She thanked Mr. Huang and hurried home to
> start her plot of murdering her mother-in-law. Weeks went by, and months
> went by, and every other day, Li-Li served the specially treated food to her
> mother-in-law. She remembered what Mr. Huang had said about avoiding
> suspicion, so she controlled her temper! , obeyed her mother-in-law, and
> treated her like her own mother.
> After six months had passed, the whole household had changed.. Li-Li had
> practiced controlling her temper so much that she found that she almost
> never got mad or upset. She hadn't had an argument with her mother-in-law in
> six months because she now seemed much kinder and easier to get along with.
> The mother-in-law's attitude toward Li-Li changed, and she began to love
> Li-Li like her own daughter. She kept telling friends and relatives that
> Li-Li was the best daughter-in-law one could ever find. Li-Li and her
> mother-in-law were now treating each other like a real mother and daughter.
> Li-Li's husband was very happy to see what was happening. One day, Li-Li
> came to see Mr. Huang and asked for his help again She said, 'Dear Mr.
> Huang, please help me to keep the poison from killing my mother-in-law.
> She's changed into such a nice woman, and I love her like my own mother. I
> do not want her to die because of the poison I gave her.'
> Mr. Huang smiled and nodded his head. 'Li-Li, there's nothing to worry
> about. I never gave you any poison. The herbs I gave you were vitamins to
> improve her health. The only poison was in your mind and your attitude
> toward her, but that has been all washed away by the love which you gave to
> her.'
> HAVE YOU REALIZED that how you treat others is exactly how they will treat
> you? There is a wise Chinese saying: 'The person who loves others will also
> be loved in return.' God might be trying to work in another person's life
> through you. Send this to your friends and spread the love..
> 'A candle loses nothing if it is used to light another one'
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Accepting Your “Mutual Rightness”
As humans, our values and perspectives are shaped by the myriad of people, experiences, environments, and events we encounter during our formative years (our “youth”). We’re all natural “products of our times.” And as such, with few exceptions, each of us is normal … each of us is RIGHT – regardless of how we may vary from others.
Certainly, there are times when differing viewpoints are unacceptable. Take, for example, the small handful of people who believe it’s perfectly okay to lie, cheat, steal, and disrespect their way to success. No matter how you cut it, those folks are just plain wrong and should not be tolerated, much less condoned. But, we all know that they are the extreme exception rather than the general rule. For the most part, being “different” doesn’t make you wrong – it just makes you different. And that’s something all of us need to come to grips with and accept.
Just as your beliefs are appropriate and correct for you, coworkers who don’t share your views have beliefs, mindsets, and attitudes that are equally appropriate and correct … for them. Ignore this fact – label them “wrong” – and you’ll self-righteously presume that “they need to change” (and stubbornly wait for them to do it). But acknowledge and accept that they are as right as you are, and you’re more likely to pursue more respectful and collaborative ways of working together through which everyone wins.
Certainly, there are times when differing viewpoints are unacceptable. Take, for example, the small handful of people who believe it’s perfectly okay to lie, cheat, steal, and disrespect their way to success. No matter how you cut it, those folks are just plain wrong and should not be tolerated, much less condoned. But, we all know that they are the extreme exception rather than the general rule. For the most part, being “different” doesn’t make you wrong – it just makes you different. And that’s something all of us need to come to grips with and accept.
Just as your beliefs are appropriate and correct for you, coworkers who don’t share your views have beliefs, mindsets, and attitudes that are equally appropriate and correct … for them. Ignore this fact – label them “wrong” – and you’ll self-righteously presume that “they need to change” (and stubbornly wait for them to do it). But acknowledge and accept that they are as right as you are, and you’re more likely to pursue more respectful and collaborative ways of working together through which everyone wins.
Friday, July 16, 2010
Get More Done Every Workday
• Is the meeting necessary? That’s the first question to ask and answer. Before calling a meeting, make sure it has a purpose. Routine meetings – meetings that occur simply because they always happen every Monday at 10:00 a.m. – are not a good investment unless they fulfill or advance your objective.
• At least 24 hours before the meeting, distribute an agenda addressing four important attendee questions: 1) Why am I investing time in this meeting? 2) How long will it last? 3) Who’s attending? 4) What’s the purpose, goals, and expectations?
• Make the meeting short. Most managers say at least one-half of their meeting time is wasted. That averages out to 5 hours per week, 250 hours per year for each person involved. Wow! Make it a goal to cut your meeting time in half. If people are prepared before they arrive, most meetings could be accomplished in half the time.
• Make a point to start on time. If people come in late, ignore them and keep going. Don’t recap what’s already covered. If you do, you’re simply rewarding the tardy person and punishing on-time folks.
• If it’s not important they hear what is scheduled for the rest of the meeting, consider offering participants the option of leaving after they have completed their portion.
• Meeting’s over. But wait! Do you really think everyone knows what they’re supposed to do next? Don’t assume anything! Before leaving the meeting, recap so everyone knows who’s responsible for any next steps, when action should take place, and how results will be communicated.
• At least 24 hours before the meeting, distribute an agenda addressing four important attendee questions: 1) Why am I investing time in this meeting? 2) How long will it last? 3) Who’s attending? 4) What’s the purpose, goals, and expectations?
• Make the meeting short. Most managers say at least one-half of their meeting time is wasted. That averages out to 5 hours per week, 250 hours per year for each person involved. Wow! Make it a goal to cut your meeting time in half. If people are prepared before they arrive, most meetings could be accomplished in half the time.
• Make a point to start on time. If people come in late, ignore them and keep going. Don’t recap what’s already covered. If you do, you’re simply rewarding the tardy person and punishing on-time folks.
• If it’s not important they hear what is scheduled for the rest of the meeting, consider offering participants the option of leaving after they have completed their portion.
• Meeting’s over. But wait! Do you really think everyone knows what they’re supposed to do next? Don’t assume anything! Before leaving the meeting, recap so everyone knows who’s responsible for any next steps, when action should take place, and how results will be communicated.
Monday, July 12, 2010
Be Aware of Your Thinking
the more you dwell upon it, the more life you give to that thought. Give it
enough life, and it will become real. So make sure the thought is indeed a
great one."
-- Ralph Marston
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Getting Good at Getting Along
Begin by Understanding Yourself
Since the early days of civilization sages have been teaching about the importance of self-knowledge and self-awareness. The Oracle at Delphi said, “Know thyself.” Socrates wrote, “The unexamined life is not worth living.”
There are two people in any relationship and one of them is YOU. So if you want to have good relationships with others — both at work and in your personal life — the best place to start is with yourself.
What motivates you? Power? Achievement? Affiliation? Which is more important to you: to be respected or to be liked? What makes you angry? What are your hot buttons? What kinds of people do you enjoy working with and what kinds of people drive you crazy? And do you know why?
People Facts 101.1
What do all your relationships have in common? YOU! You are the single biggest factor in your success (or failure) when working with others.
Since the early days of civilization sages have been teaching about the importance of self-knowledge and self-awareness. The Oracle at Delphi said, “Know thyself.” Socrates wrote, “The unexamined life is not worth living.”
There are two people in any relationship and one of them is YOU. So if you want to have good relationships with others — both at work and in your personal life — the best place to start is with yourself.
What motivates you? Power? Achievement? Affiliation? Which is more important to you: to be respected or to be liked? What makes you angry? What are your hot buttons? What kinds of people do you enjoy working with and what kinds of people drive you crazy? And do you know why?
People Facts 101.1
What do all your relationships have in common? YOU! You are the single biggest factor in your success (or failure) when working with others.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)