How do you get your employees to work together as a team?
This is a question that many managers are asking.The bottom line for managers is getting the results needed, and if employees would work as a team instead of as individuals, getting the results would be much easier.
One of the most effective ways to do this is to create a working environment where your employees see themselves as part of a team and you as a manager as the coach of the team. The traditional model of supervisor and subordinates does not create a willingness in employees to take ownership of their responsibility, and become motivated to put more than minimal effort into their work. The team building model, however, when effectively implemented, can produce better results, and increase participation and cooperation among the employees.
The manager has a essential part in creating a sense of team, and the approach taken is a critical factor for success. A successful model of team building can be seen in sports.Every sports team has a coach. The role of the coach is to strategically position the players, train and coach them, and motivate them towards becoming a champion team. There are many useful analogies between a sports and a work team.
The more managers consider themselves as a coach to their team, the more the team will respond positively to their leadership.
This article explores some of the team building skills of a sports coach, and how they can be successfully applied to a workplace supervisory position
Relationship Building
Managers need to be able to build a good relationship, not only with the team as a while, but also with individuals on the team. Relationship builds an essential team building block – that of trust. Trust is vitally important for encouraging cooperation and for motivation.
Availability
Managers need to be available to the team and approachable. They need to seen to be around, not shut away behind a closed door doing administration. Do your employees feel they can approach you about their concerns? Are you around enough to know and feel the pulse of the team.?
Set goals
Planning and setting goals is an important aspect of supervisory success. Does your team know what the short. mid term and long term goals are for the team? Are the goals realistic, and communicated well? Does the team have a sense of purpose and direction?
Promote participation
Managers need to be able to motivate team players to fully and willingly participate and buy in to the team purpose. It is the role of the manager to focus employees on the goals and purposes of the team, and facilitate everyone working together to get the needed results.
Share Information
Successful managers do not keep information to themselves. They keep people informed and provide them with all the information needed for them to take on a task or project.
Being a role model
Managers need to be a positive example of what they want to see in the team. That means walking the talk, having exemplary standards and consistent expectations of themselves as well as the team.
Celebrate Attempts
Coaches encourage their team to try new things and create an environment where people feel comfortable learning and trying new things. Progress and personal achievements are to be celebrated as people attempt challenging tasks.
Delegation
Coaches do not do everything themselves. Rather they view delegation as a means to develop their players, and enlarge their skills by positioning them strategically. They see delegation, not just as a means of dividing up the work, but as an opportunity of building self esteem and confidence and increasing skills
Be A Team Player
A coach doesn’t just manage the team but becomes part of the team. Don’t ask a team member to do something that you would be unwilling to do yourself.
Developing a coaching style of managing will create the team that will get the results managers want. Managers have the greatest influence on the job satisfaction on the employees they supervise. The role of supervisor means the authority to make decisions that directly impact the team. As a coach, developing team building skills will give you the power to influence and motivate your employees to participate as team players, and work as a team .
Author: Barbara WhiteArticle Source: EzineArticles.com
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