BUILDING YOUR TEAM

A team is made up of a group of people linked in common purpose. A group does not in itself constitute a Team but the members must have expertise, skills, abilities and experiences that complement one another towards the completion of a given task. There must be synergy where 1 +1 = 10 i.e. benefits derived from the sum of the various units will be higher and better than individual efforts. This synergy must allow the members maximize their potentials and convert individual weaknesses to strength.

The essence of a Team as it relates to business is interdependent in nature where members depend on each other for the success of the project/task utilizing their different skills and experiences for the good of all, just like a football team. All players must work together as one for the team to triumph and this can only be possible where players or members know, trust and respect each other’s’ talents, views, values, etc. Together Everyone Achieves More.

The size of the team though crucial but it is not as important as the composition. Composition of the team should not be limited to within the organizations as other professionals can also be co-opted as advisers, mentors, etc.  Nadine Todd in the July 12, 2013 article: Hello Alpha identified 3 (three) different personality types:

1.     Alpha: The big picture thinker with large aspirations, can-do mentality, always positive but might lack the ability to look at issues critically

2.      Bravo: Lives in tomorrow, driven to achieve, focuses on facts and proof to make decisions but can be judgmental and narrow-minded

3.     Charlie:  least likely to succeed, focuses on risks and why the task cannot be completed, shy away from taking responsibility, negative, etc. This negative attitude can however drain the energy of others.

There is nothing more important for a business than hiring the right team. “They say you can teach a squirrel to fly. But it’s easier to hire the eagle.” The success of any Team depends among others on the following:

• Should be a blend of people with diverse knowledge, experiences, expertise, specialties, etc. This is to ensure a balanced perspective and contributions where knowledge is exchanged and skills transferable.
• Greater diversity of thought, perspective, value system, culture and background has been shown to lead to greater innovation among Teams. Ideas and suggestions should not be discard at the face value but analyzed and reviewed to avoid discouraging members.
• There must be a unifying objective or purpose that drives the activity and actions of the members.
• The composition must be people with the right personality and attitude. Negative energy should be avoided to avoid draining the energy of others.
• Openness and willingness to accept the views plus learn from others should be the foundation upon which the Team should be built
• Conflict resolution mechanism to detect early and resolve all issues to avoid degenerating to the point of affecting the global goal/objective

Check the composition of people that surrounds you and confirm if they have the same dream with you, complement your strengths, provides the much need positive energy and support and most importantly you must be able to determine if you are on the same page and paragraph. It's never too late to change or upgrade you team.

Do you have the right team composition?