Organizations are made up of people. As an
employer or networker a large part of your
success hinges on the success of the organization
behind you. No man is an island after all.

Building that organization can be a challenge as
we tend to believe that everyone thinks like we
do. The problems arise when it dawns on us that
they don’t. As individuals, we
each have our own agendas. Our own wants, needs
and desires. The big picture we carry
ourselves is not the same picture the members of
our organization carries.

So how do we get a team to work?

First the same principles apply if you’re
building a new team or taking on an exsisiting
team.

The first step is to talk to your people. Let
them know what you want to accomplish and the
benefits of accomplishing it. In the
conversation ask they feel about that, what their
own wants or needs are. Then ask them what ideas
they have for achieving the goals. The key to
all this is to listen to what they have to say.
Write it down if you have to.

This little step will allow you accomplish a
number of things.

Our opinions, thoughts and ideas are important
to use. We build rapport quickly with others who
are open to hearing what we have to say.
When others really listen with an open mind to
our ideas we suddenly develop a personal stake in
the outcome of the gaols.

Because we are being asked for our thoughts,
ideas and opinions and we answer, our answers
reveal to to the person who is asking our own
strengths and weaknesses. This allows that person
to figure out how best to let us work.

When you’re able to identify the strengths and
weaknesses of each team member you’ll be able see
which teaching method you’ll need to teach each
one. You’ll also be able to see which tasks will
be handled best by which members.
If you assign a task to someone and they seem to
be struggling, it’s possible you didn’t give
clear instructions. The other possibility is
that you missed proper identification of their
strengths. For their best interest and that of
the team change what you have them doing. People
will always work best and get better results when
they work from a position of strength.

One more little detail that makes a huge
difference in helping to build and maintain team
cohesiveness. Take the time to tell them thank
you on a regular basis. Everyone likes to feel
appreciated and acknowledged. The results of
your actions will show themselves in the results
of your teams’ performance.