In this article, the concept of team building will be focused more specific to that of a public service organization. However, the ideas found within can readily be applied to that of any organization that serves to provide customer service, while striving to improve this relationship. In most any organization, you will find leaders, managers and team members. Therefore, when we look at team building, it would stand to reason that we first look at the distinction between the leaders and managers, both of which are essential to the development and function of a stellar team.
In "On Becoming a Leader" (Addison Wesley, 1994), author and business theorist Warren Bennis cites poet and insurance executive Wallace Stevens, who once noted that managers wear square hats and learn through training while leaders wear sombreros and opt for education. "I think of the difference between leaders and managers as the difference between those who master the context and those who surrender to it," Bennis writes. For other qualities that speak to individuals looking to move beyond management into broader leadership roles, the following will help serve this distinction:
A MANAGER
Does things right
Asks how and when
Focuses on systems and structures
Relies on control
Accepts the status quo
Maintains
Imitates
Keeps an eye on the bottom line
A LEADER
Does things right
Asks what and why
Focuses on people
Inspires trust
Challenges the status quo
Develops
Originates
Keeps an eye on the horizon
In continuing along, lets now shift our attention to that of teams. Teams are composed of complex individuals with a myriad of talents, gifts and abilities. As team leaders are either selected or emerge, it becomes their responsibility to first know and understand the strengths of all team members, including themselves. Then to design and provide opportunities by which the team members can expand their strengths.
Team leaders do not automatically possess all the skills necessary to identify strengths. The skill level of team leadership falls on a personal growth continuum: a progression from a novice to an amateur to the professional. Various skill development time, dedication, and experience will assist team leading in the movement from one stage to another.
In their book, "Soar with Your Strengths," Donald Clifton and Paula Nelson list five characteristics of a strength:
Listen for yearnings Watch for satisfactions Observe rapid learning Notice glimpses of excellence Seek total performance of excellence
They also list eight ways to identify a weakness:
Feel defensive about performance Develop obsessive behavior Experience slow learning Don't profit from repeated experience Consciously think through each step Experience a reduction in confidence Lack futuristic thinking about the activity Suffer burnout while practicing the activity
Team leaders need to be alert to a variety of experiences that will enhance the strengths of team members. By matching task to strength, success is predictable. The discerning leader also is able to identify those latent or dormant talents and provide situations whereby these can surface. The successful team leader is aware of the need to keep members challenged, even in areas of strength. To do so is to provide tasks of increasing difficulty and complexity.
Armed with this knowledge, professional team leaders are able to focus the strengths of the team into a productive energy source to accomplish the mission of the team. The degree of success in developing a team is related to how well the team leader understands and utilizes the strengths of their entire team.
In the next segment of "Team Building," to be presented later this year, we will address "Personal Growth Portfolio" because personal growth must precede team growth. Therefore, we encourage you to continue to review our web page in order to obtain this illuminating information. It will certainly serve you in the course of developing your team, thus, enhancing your management and leadership skills. However, if you wish to have a personal consultation regarding the subject matter of team building, call your JSO/EAP, telephone 630-0750, make an appointment, and we'll be pleased to serve you.