Excellent tips to Build Great Teams

Please forward to anyone who focuses on improving performance for both their teams and their families.

Thank you,

Best of Success,

Donna

1. A Great Team

When your team is united around a shared vision, empowered to communicate easily, what they are asked to do on a day-to-day basis is relevant and interesting and the team is far more likely to achieve large goals. Think broadly and execute with detailed precision. Don't be afraid to mix up the org chart, promote empowerment, and include diversity! Choosing talent over politics, having the courage to give employees the power to make better decisions, and figuring out ways to include a diverse set of talents/cultures is a hallmark of top-performing teams. McKinsey, a top performing consulting company, found having at least one woman on the board of directors resulted in more than 35% higher financial outcomes for all. This is large incremental value for and with people, the products and services they bring together to deliver value to customers, and assets invested in.

Social sciences found when we work with others who have different backgrounds than ourselves, the extra work put in has a high % of producing better outcomes. This is relevant for our personal lives, career, and happiness and success in moderate levels of sports results in a better quality in life and work too. Both sports and music builds skills to support overall success.

My name is Donna Downs Kawasaki. I've worked with Business leaders in 83 of the Fortune 100 Companies, professional and competitive sports and music. Am grateful for the great teams I have worked with in the past and look forward to working with these people in the future too.

Email: [email protected] and phone: (650)575-7677.

2. A Gold Medal Mindset:

Al Oerter, four-time gold medal winner states,

“I Didn’t Set Out to Beat the World; I Just Set Out to Do My Absolute Best.”

A gold medal mind set is more than just trying to win a gold medal or create a profitable company. It is about using the talents you have to create the absolute best possible experiences in this world. Make your time in this world be the absolute best.

There are many personality types and when you understand yourself it makes it easier to understand how to contribute to be successful.

Assertive personality types use goals to motivate them, and are decisive, and competitive. They care first about results and then personal relationships. They might not send you a holiday card, but if you deliver on your commitments, you'll maintain a healthy business relationship. They want information -- fast -- so they can make decisions and accomplish goals. To build positive relationships with people who are assertive personalities, professionalism is always important, but especially so when it comes to those who assertive. Always make sure you’re prepared for a meeting.

• Assertives appreciate great results.
• Emphasize how to solve their business’ problems or make life better.
• Show how your solution is the best for customers.
• Steer clear of personal opinions and focus on return on investment.
• Keep information brief and of high value.

Amiable & Expressive Customers value relationships as they achieve success. At the end of the day they will remember how you made them feel and this will enable them to do more than they originally thought possible. Just think of how you encourage your children, who are generally more amiable and expressive to their parents, especially in their younger years. As these same children assert themselves are dive deep into data, the relationship sometimes gets strained. When relationships are strained it is like going through a construction zone and our goal should always be to do your absolute best with your team and on your own.

Analytical personality type love data, facts, and figures. They are more logical and cautious than any other personality type, and are less expressive than other personality types. They are concerned with facts rather than emotion, and likely won’t spend time getting to know you on a personal level. In conversation, Analytics are generally more serious, direct, and formal. They might not use expressive gesturing in meetings, but you can be sure they are listening intently.

• Instead of saying “Our product drives growth for many companies,” say, “Our product increased sales in 13 Fortune 500 companies by 25% or more year-over-year.” You can offer more information than they ask for without risking them becoming overwhelmed -- in fact, they’ll probably welcome it.

Keep in mind that most social and work interactions will be a mix of personality types like playing different sports. However, once you’re familiar with various strengths, you should be able to tailor your communication to fit any situation you come across.

3. Enjoy the Journey

Carl Lewis, Olympic gold medalist in 1996, 1992, 1988 states,

“It’s all about the journey, not the outcome.”

Traditional top-down command structure where you only focus on the medal does not produce the best results and especially does not optimize work for creativity and problem solving. People need power and space to solve the problems they encounter on a daily basis: Give it to them. Let people closest to a problem have input on the solutions.

This concept is often referred to as inverting the org chart and it helps to put the power where it can do the most good. The people who have relationships and capacities to grow value with large groups of customers are one of your biggest assets. Similarly, every sports team you are a part of, these are relationships where you can build skills and positive experience.

Thank you to the teams I've worked with in the past and teams who I will work with in the future. Am grateful for the opportunity to know you, learn about your strengths, and figure out ways to make improvements in social well-being and economic development.

Greatly appreciate the opportunity to know, work with you, and create successes!

Look forward to many more Successes,

Best Wishes,

Donna