ENCOURAGE TEAM PROBLEM SOLVING.THE KEY TO GETTING EMPLOYEES TO WOR...
4. Encourage team problem solving.
The key to getting employees to work like a team is
There is no limit to
getting them to think like a team, with team goals … team
how much good
communication … team recognition. The best way to start
you can do if you
building this team thinking is to set goals that can be met
don’t care who
only through teamwork. You might set goals for
gets the credit.
increasing group output or designing new procedures that
will make everyone’s jobs easier. As much as possible, let
the team participate in the goal-setting process.
Ask everyone to take part in a brainstorming session. As
with the problem-solving steps noted earlier, ground rules
should be a) everyone is encouraged to contribute and
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Coaching, Mentoring and Managing
b) there’s no such thing as a “bad” idea — at this phase.
Later, after all ideas have been listed, the group can select
the idea most likely to succeed. This approach helps team
members listen for one another’s good ideas and gives
everyone a chance to contribute to a team solution without
fear of criticism.
When it comes to facilitating the team’s ability to handle
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its own problems, the best way is to simply do that:
facilitate, don’t solve. Instead of suggesting or telling a
solution, revert to your StaffCoach™ questioning ability:
How do you see it? What could you do? Think about what
you just said. Do this enough and they get the idea: It
really is their problem.
A good team always can accomplish more than any one
individual. Once employees learn the benefits and ways of
working together, they’ll integrate their strengths and
talents to accomplish results.