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Implementing an organization-wide culture of teamwork
is like preparing the soil for crops ...what matters is below
the soil line.
If teamwork
seems to be more of a slogan than a way of working - my best
advice is to dig
down a bit. Find out if the
organization has the mechanisms in place... the processes in
place... and the metrics in place that allow the roots of teamwork
to take hold.
Consider the management team and governing bodies
Are they aligned with what they expect from the teams?
Are there contradictions between what they say they
value ("We're a team-based organization!") and what they
actually promote and reward?
Does
functional management really "manage" cross-functionally,
or are silos still as strong as ever?
There's a shift
in thinking that has to happen when organizations transition
to a team-based structure - are your line managers prepared?
How are cross-functional Team Leaders selected? Do they possess
both technical and
leadership skills? Can they influence without
authority, faciltiate productive conflict - and lead effective team
decision making?
Is training and support available? Teams benefit when they are
provided with fundamental tools and skills to develop and sustain
their team. Are these tools available?
The best, fastest way to explore your organization's
team culture is to ASK. Gather information from senior
management, functional management, team leaders and team members
with a targeted Team
Climate Survey.
Ask to what extent they perceive the following
statements to be true...
·
A common
definition of "high performance teams" exists across the
company
·
Empowerment
goals (authority and accountability) have been clearly established
for the teams.
· Functional
managers support the cross-functional teams - and align functional
goals with team goals
·
Team Leaders
have experience and skill in managing team process issues (i.e.,
facilitate team meetings, conflict resolution, and consensus
building.)
·
Measurement
systems exist for providing specific, timely feedback on team
performance.
·
Team members
effectively demonstrate cross-cultural and global awareness and
sensitivity.
Whether you're looking for a baseline measurement of
teamwork... or you want to measure progress - a well-designed
Team Climate Survey provides a compelling case for
action. The results will give you specific, actionable
information about what is helping... or hindering
teamwork in your organzation.
I've helped
companies grow strong team environments from the ground up! I can help you, too. Contact
me today!
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