are committed to each other. Where are the commitments in
sense of team, you need to have everyone come together
your company?
for some group time. You can do this in a variety of ways:
The fact is that many employees have a sense of, “I have
Take everyone out to dinner once a month, engage in a team
to look out for myself.” People think they have to constantly
building retreat, start a company softball team … do anything
defend themselves and watch their space. As such, they’re
to get everyone out and together as one unit. Create the
more concerned about their own status or well-being than
scenarios and language that reinforce the team concept. You
where the company is going, what the company’s goals are,
may hit some initial resistance to this idea, but keep pushing.
and how those goals are going to be met.
Team spirit does not just happen; you must nurture it. And
don’t always talk shop during these social gatherings. You will
As long as people are focused on internal competition, using
find that creativity will flow much better in the days following
all of their energy in that direction, the company won’t go far.
the events, when everyone is feeling more connected.
Sure, the organization might make some short-term gains, but
over the long-term, the losses will outweigh any success.
In basketball there’s a saying that no one cares if you score 30
3. Get team members to commit to others consciously and
points per night on a losing team. Think about how why that
verbally
saying holds true in business, too. If your company is going
Once your group feels good about the members of the team,
downhill fast, who cares about any short-term profits? As long
the next step is to ask for a greater commitment. Remember,
as you’re just looking out for yourself and trying to beat your
to have a true team, people must be committed to each other,
teammates, you’re going to lose the biggest game out there.
not just an ideal, goal or person. When everyone is connected,
You’re not going to be a star at the top of your industry.
there will be an opportunity to take the conversation to the
Success only comes when you play as a team. The key is to
next level. Plan this ahead of time and get everyone to sit
end internal competition and get everybody aligned with “this
and discuss what the next level would look like and how to
is where we’re going.” Once that happens, the individual
get there. This is critical to gain momentum. Discuss what the
accolades will follow.
individual benefit would be if the team succeeds. Keep in mind
that not everyone is focused on money or career advancement.
If people on your team just can’t seem to get past the “I”
For many folks, gaining a greater sense of job satisfaction may
mentality – if they can’t stop asking, “Why should I help these
be the missing link. Once there is consensus on the goals and
guys? What are they going to do for me?” – it’s time to create
benefits of operating as a team, ask for their commitment in
a mindset shift in your organization. The following suggestions
writing. This will give you something to refer back to when
will help.
there are breakdowns. Most breakdowns occur because the
commitments to each other have been lost along the way.
By reminding people of their promises and the benefits of
1. Create a team philosophy
committing to helping others, you can restore balance and
Management has to embrace a team philosophy that if
move to the next level.
everyone pulls together, everyone will get what they want.
Realize that an employee or manager’s value is directly
related to the company’s success. Think about it …who wants
Remove Obstacles – Create Success
to promote someone from a losing department? If you want to
While a little external competition with outside companies
advance, show your commitment by making sure those around
is healthy and keeps your employees on their toes, internal
you advance. Additionally, management has to reinforce
competition among team members and departments is a sure
this ideology on a daily basis by communicating the team
path to challenges and setbacks. So if you want your company
philosophy regularly and by meeting with staff individually to
to succeed now and in the future, end the internal competition
explain how adopting the corporate goals and values and
once and for all. Foster a sense of team commitment that
sticking together will help everyone. Equally important is to
goes beyond a promise to “hit the numbers.” When you get
make the communication real. People want to help but they
people committed to each other first and foremost, you pave
often lose the personal connection in the midst of too much
the way for future profits and create a company culture that
bureaucracy and end up focusing on just hitting “numbers.”
breeds success.
Since this is a behavior and a mindset shift, it’ll take time
to turn. It’s a lot like turning a battleship – slow and steady
progress gets you to your goal. Yes, it’s a new direction, but
Mark Eaton is a business speaker and coach who works with
organizations and individuals sharing the four commitments that
it’s one that can inspire teams to perform at levels greater
bring about teamwork, breakthrough success and sustained cultural
than they knew possible. It’s a philosophy that’s well worth the
change. Mark’s inspiring journey from auto mechanic to record-
effort to put in place.
breaking NBA player, combined with his practical strategies and
principles, help organizations play and win in the biggest game out
there. To book Mark for your next event visit www.7ft4.com or e-mail
2. Instill a sense of camaraderie and team spirit
him at info@7ft4.com.
You can’t have a true team if everyone always stays to
themselves in their offices and only interacts with each other
during weekly meetings. In order to consistently reinforce this
7 marketingtimes
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