Creating Awesome Teams
Last week our leadership development team stopped by and asked me to record a short video on “how to create awesome teams?” The audience is first-time managers. Their request got me thinking. In my typical style, I started by making a list of various traits that I have observed when working with awesome teams. I also made a list of those traits that I have found to have come in the way of building awesome teams. While I was quite happy with the list that I made, I was thinking about how to make this list accessible. What would be a crisp message that will be easy for first-time managers to remember and to deploy as they work with their team members?
Here is what I shared with our leadership development team.
To create an awesome team, you must have a clear mission. A compelling mission is essential to get the teams all charged up and excited. Sometimes the mission is obvious and clear but even then, it helps to have it well-written down. When the mission is not very clear, having a brainstorming session to decide on a common mission helps in motivating the team. After all, everyone loves to work on projects that are meaningful.
Once you have a mission, you must ensure that all the team members are perfectly aligned and know the role they play in the team. As in soccer or in cricket, every team member must play to their position and the entire team must be aligned and focused on achieving the mission.
Next, it is important to empower every member of the team. Everyone on the team must believe that their work is contributing to the mission and must feel empowered to make decisions as if they own the mission. They should not have to constantly look to the captain to make the next move.
Finally, trust is what makes teams awesome. We must have faith in the team and believe that every team member is working towards the mission and will push the limits to not let the team down.
Just so that it is easy to remember – T is for Trust, E is for Empowerment, A is for Alignment and M is for Mission.
What do you think about this? What would be your message? How would you ensure that the first-time managers are able to remember the message and put it to good use?
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4 年Anand Deshpande .. a very clear and powerful write up! Thank you !
Co-CEO | CDO | IT Delivery | Digital Transformation | Digital Assurance | Technology Leader | Data Analytics | Entry Level Talent Specialist |
4 年Well said Anand. To add to what you said, The term 'manage' itself need to to transform its definition for first time managers. Because these managers have transformed from lead role and they were earlier team member buddies. One more thing these managers should remember and practice is "Continue earlier people connect and provide clarity and growth opportunities to team members in the job execution ". My realization from my exp is "Nobody wants to be managed rather to be led"
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4 年Great article and thanks for sharing. Just to add to this, it is also mindset, atitude, desire and harnessing the individual skill set that will (hopefully), blend into a powerhouse of excellence. Once you have discovered the 'Human Capital' of each person, you can align the skills and people accordingly.? Although, before you start that, you must ensure the team share the vision, mission and purpose of the company and it resonates with their personal passions, needs, desires and abilities. Then you can really be in sync and drive the business forward. The absence of this, will create longer term problems with the people and the direction.? Once that is in place, then you can leverage on my 'Interactive Storytelling' and 3Cs methodology and you will excel!?
VP, Real Estate - Fiserv, India
4 年"Alignment" seems to be quite sought after trait off-late. Recently read Cyprian D'Souza?talking about the same with one addition. Alignment & Attunement: Every one moving in same direction AND in harmony.??
?? Speaker ?? I help dyslexic & ADHD business owners & Entreprenuers ReframeMindsets??, RefreshHabits?? to RebuildPeople???? Dyslexia & ADHD Awareness Advocate ?? Trainer, Coach & Consultant ?? Founder TwelveAwards
4 年Very good Anand.? Trust is key to high performing teams and the leader who can't build trust, well may not actually be a leader.