WHEN WILL YOU START, AND HOW WILL YOU MEASURE YOUR SUCCESS

5. When will you start, and how will you measure

your success?

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Coaching, Mentoring and Managing

Right Thinking About Team Purpose

In any leadership setting … in any workforce … two points of

view can apply to the primary purpose of the team. One

philosophy says the main goal of the team is to solve problems.

The other approach says the purpose of teamwork is to improve

performance. StaffCoaching™ states throughout that the one goal

6

of the coach is results.

Which point of view lines up with the StaffCoaching™ Model

and your own actions? Improving performance. As a coach, you

encourage, energize, motivate, guide, and solve problems. You

“Great minds have

take actions and plan strategies to be effective. You run the risk of

purposes. Others

becoming just a glorified fire extinguisher if your main focus is

have wishes.”

problem solving. As well, you might be developing clones, not

—Washington

freethinkers and innovative team members. You must go beyond

Irving

solving problems to improving the performance that may be

causing the problems. StaffCoaching™ is all about taking people

to the next, higher level in their performance.

To illustrate: Fine-tuning your fuel injection won’t necessarily

win the Indy 500. But deciding to win the Indy will require

improved fuel injection. Another example: Teaching your team

conflict-resolution skills won’t increase productivity. But giving

them responsibility for increased productivity will demand

conflict-resolution skills. You need both — but team

accountability is all-important. Optimum results come from a

unified, objective-oriented, growing team.

Summary

Integrating a team involves StaffCoaching™ techniques and

the appropriate approach. Like individuals, teams require

coaching, mentoring and counseling. The challenge you face is

one of sheer numbers. Problems multiply when you deal with a

team of people.

As a coach, distinguish between a group and a team. Teams

share a common goal, and that is what gives you the optimum

results you want. Integrating the talents and strengths of your

people into a cohesive team gives them the accountability and the

ability to exponentially expand their impact.

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How you do this is through sharing a vision, involving the

team, rewarding achievement.

What keeps managers from becoming real coaches is how

they recognize and reward the team. You can raise your team’s

level of awareness of their potential and their ability by what you

reward. You can impact their own interpersonal skills so that they

have the ability and comfort level to recognize one another. You

do this by consciously scheduling actions into your daily planner.

Elicit the help of the team to achieve higher results. Harness the

power of technology and make communications seamless and

information available. Create a fun, celebratory atmosphere which

increases enjoyment and buy-in. Develop individuals and

create teams.

Chapter Quiz