Divide and conquer!

More and more I see teams that don’t effectively determine what the best place is for each team member to succeed and exceed! It is critical to recognize people’s strengths and allow them to work on tasks that highlight their strengths. When everyone is doing what they do best, exceptional results occur.

Let’s examine how you can get started. The first question to start with is, does everyone have a job description on the team? Do you have contracts that outline each person’s roles and responsibilities for helping the team achieve success? If not, you, as the team leader, need to tackle this task right away! What can be managed can be measured.

Next, do the team members know what the goals, objectives and desires the team leader has for the team? If people don’t know where the team is supposed to go, how will it get there? This statement is something Yogi Berra might say, but it’s true. The members of the team cannot operate at peak efficiency and effectiveness if they don’t know what the team’s focus is and why. This results in them not being able to use their strengths to everyone’s advantage. It is the team leader’s responsibility to write down their desire and share it with the team members – this area of communication is critical to the team’s success in utilizing its strengths and will help to get you on the road to success.

Here is one way to help the team “get on track”. Start with this exercise: Take a sheet of paper out and down the middle draw a vertical line. Have everyone write down what they believe their strong points are on one side and what their areas for improvement are on the other. To help them clarify, ask them, when thinking of what they do, list their likes on one side – their dislikes on the other side. Next, have them explain why they “like” what they do and why they “dislike” what they don’t. Also, have them list what the teams strengths are and where there needs to be improvement and why. Have each person on the team list what the other team member’s strengths and areas for improvement are as well. Keep this information confidential. Respecting others and not sharing this type of information with every else is crucial to your success as a leader. Do, however meet with each team member privately to discuss the results of the exercise to ensure everyone is on the same page and is prepared to make the team concept work.

Take time to review each person’s answers carefully. Is there too much overlapping in any particular area? Are there areas that are lacking that need to be addressed? Do everyone’s areas mesh or are they all the same? This can be a real eye opener and help you determine if you need to reorganize or restructure and maybe even restart your team. It’s your team – do what is right for you! Be encouraging in your analysis of your team. If people aren’t utilizing their strengths, they probably aren’t happy and by reworking your structure may help them flourish somewhere else - either on your team or someone else’s. Remember, its business, not personal. Help others grow and you will grow as a result. Get it? Got it? Good