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Welcome to NMA’s
Leadership
Excellence – The
ROADMAP(sm)
Newsletter
Thursday,
May 31, 2007 – Vol. 12
Written
and Published by Natalie R. Manor
Visit our
website at:
http://www.NatalieManor.com
Table of
Contents:
1.
A Note from Natalie Manor,
CEO
2.
Proven
Strategies for Building Highly Successful Teams
Dave Liddell, COO
3. Insight
from an NMA Team Member, Sandy Mayo, Dir. of
Administration
4. Teambuilding and the Next
Generation, Natalie Hoffmann, Dir. of Operations
5.
Resources for Your
ROADMAP(sm)
to Teambuilding
|
Teambuilding eBook
with MP3
 |
Your
ROADMAP(sm)
for Teambuilding
1.
A
Note from Natalie Manor, CEO
Dave,
Sandy and Natalie Jr join us today in the newsletter
with their comments and experience on teambuilding and
the value of it.
When
executives and HR people are looking for ideas on
teambuilding, most of the time they want to know:
-
Can you actually get a group of people operational
and in synch with each other to produce a product or
service?
-
And HOW do you do that – what are the tips,
techniques and strategies for teambuilding?
-
How long does it take to get a fully operational
team productive and effective?
-
What are the pieces of teambuilding that need
special attention?
-
What will I get from the time spent forming a team>
You
have come to the right place with your questions. Our
new "Teambuilding: The 6 Steps to Creating,
Communicating and Collaborating" eBook with MP3
is a great start to answering these questions and
helping you put together highly effective and high
performing teams. You can find the "Teambuilding:
The 6 Steps to Creating, Communicating and
Collaborating" eBook with MP3 at:
http://www.NatalieManor.com/shop/index.php?l=product_detail&p=1
We
also would enjoy helping you form your teams through
consulting or training. We have the resources and the
depth of knowledge and experience to help you build
highly productive, highly effective, collaborative teams
with ease and speed.
My best,
Natalie
P.S.
Our newsletter topic for June is all about Retention and
keeping your best people. Our "Retention
Strategies: Keeping Your Best People" CD is just
what you need to create a solid and highly qualified
team of people. You can find our "Retention
Strategies: Keeping Your Best People" CD at:
http://www.NatalieManor.com/shop/index.php?l=product_detail&p=8
Stay
tuned!
2.
Proven
Strategies for Building Highly Successful Teams
By David Liddell, COO
Assignment:
Group project. Do the words make you shudder at the very
thought? If so, you’re among the multitudes of us who, to save
ourselves in school, got stuck doing more than our fair share of
the work. Anyone who has experienced this fact of life knows the
sheer frustration that accompanies it.
While it seems
that the rules for group projects—or working in teams—should be
different in business then they were in school, without careful
measures, they aren’t. Human nature knows no boundaries, and
whether it’s “slacker,” “busy bee,” or “glory hog,” people can
easily follow along in their usual role for teamwork. The good
news is that there are ways of building and structuring a
business team to help ensure that it reaches its full
potential—with all members included.
The difference
between success and failure in business may no longer lie in
methods or technology, but in how individuals contribute to
teams. Realizing this, many businesses have taken to make
team-building a priority.
When effective
teamwork is on your side, you can dramatically raise
productivity, cultivate employee loyalty and ultimately take
responsibility for your success—without having to burden
yourself with responsibility for other’s contributions—or lack
thereof.
Building
Business Success: Talented Teams
We’ve all
experienced being a part of a less-than-ideal team. But it’s
highly unlikely that most of us have been an integral component
of a well-oiled machine that produces real and sustained
results: a well-built, smooth running business team. Although
they are somewhat rare to find, it’s entirely possible to create
such high performance teams in your organization.
It is first
important to distinguish a “High Performance Team” from a
traditional work group. Our definition: “A self-managing,
multi-functional group of people organized around a whole
process and empowered with full responsibility for their
success.” There are proven strategies for successfully building
such business teams.
A valuable
framework upon which to begin the teambuilding process is the
Team Model. Graphically, the model comprises three
interconnected circles, each representing one of the three main
elements of a team:
1.
The Charter, which describes why a
team exists and includes such elements as: customers, mission,
values and goals.
2.
The Design describes what the team
does and how it does it and includes: core work processes, roles
and responsibilities, procedures/norms and systems.
3.
The Relationship circle describes how
people get along and work together to accomplish their mission
and includes: trust and respect, communication, cohesion and
synergy.
The elements
of the model are interdependent and yet there is a sequence that
must drive their development. The charter must be clear
before a team can be designed, and a team must be
designed well to reduce relationship problems.
In addition,
the process calls for the managers to play different kinds of
leadership roles than perhaps they are used to and possibly for
the first time: they need to play the Trailblazer role as
they work on the charter; the Architect role to
work on the Design; and the Coach role to work on
the relationship element.
Solid teams
are the foundation of High Performance organizations, and
developing those teams is a process that takes serious effort
and consistent discipline. Such team development requires hard,
yet extremely interesting work. Those willing to undertake the
challenge are rewarded with the twice-blessed advantage of
higher efficiency and effectiveness…often dramatically
so.
Let me know
how this works for you in your organization. Send me an email at
dave@nataliemanor.com.
3.
Insight from an NMA Team Member
By Sandy
Mayo, Dir. of Administration
Hi,
I am very pleased to share with you my teambuilding thoughts and
experiences. I’ve worked for
NMA since 2004 as Director of Administration. My work includes
NMA’s schedule, marketing, coordination of events, keeping the
New Hampshire office running and maintaining the NMA
content library. Many times when Natalie does
seminars or her keynote speaking I attend those events with her
and lend back of the room support. And sometimes we all lend
our smiling faces to the tradeshows and exhibits.
Many organizations and companies like NMA
use the
team approach to working together. A recent significant shift
in organizations using team approach has important implications
for the skills that are critical to success both for the
organization and you as a developing leader. Collaboration on a
project that turns out successfully brings a sense of
fulfillment to all the members, whether their contribution was
large or small. The successful completion of a specific project
depends on the ability of the members of the team to work well
together.
As a member of the NMA organization now for over
3 years brings it’s own unique structure and personalities. Over
the last 3 years, NMA’s team size has fluctuated depending on
project needs. Team members must bring their own special
talents, skills and ideas to the table.
As the leader of a specific project, I have been
called upon to facilitate meetings to decide on an action plan,
deal with problems, and keep the team on track and to prepare
for any future developments. It has been my responsibility to
set the expectations, create a deadline and help encourage all
the members of the team to bring their specific skills to the
table which have successfully brought projects to volition.
As a member of a team: bringing my skills and
talents to the table gives me a sense of accomplishment and
pride in a job well done. It is enjoyable and satisfying to work
within the team, to determine what each one can create and
contribute to make the project a success. Discussions with team
members and being open to assistance, even criticism, can have a
positive outcome, not only for the project but for you. Your
ability to accept edits, constructive feedback or even rejection
of your idea is essential to being a positive, creative, and
productive member of the team. One idea may be rejected, but the
next will be met with grateful eyes and ears. Internally NMA,
always encourages each other to communicate ideas and thoughts,
even if we think they are silly or outside the box. Sometimes,
one thought leads to others and then we form a plan on how to
deliver the project with enthusiasm and ultimate success. Proper
delegation of tasks has led to continuing company growth.
Many forward thinking companies use team members
as a working approach and a formula for success. Shifting the
authority and responsibility, that was once management, to the
team working concept, has successfully launched many companies
into the 21st century with ease and impact.
Our collaboration as a team has allowed NMA to
combine our best skills and build our new brand:
THE ROADMAP(sm).
We could not have done this without our team. We lead by
example and communicate our ideas to each other daily and to
that end, NMA is creating internal and external success.
I hope in the future that you meet your
opportunity to be part of a team, or even lead a team, with
enthusiasm and gusto. We succeed by evaluating team members,
identifying our strengths and challenges, keeping everyone
informed, and instilling a sense of commitment and pride in our
work.
Give us a call – let us be a valuable resource to
helping you develop high performing teams within your
organization.
Best Wishes for Continued Success
4.
Teambuilding and the Next
Generation
By Natalie Hoffmann,
Dir. of
Operations
There was
a terrific news report this week on NPR (National Public
Radio) regarding our generation and how we work. Part of
the commentary was working on teams and how we need so much
feedback and attention in order to do well – to be highly
productive. Well, you know what, so do the other
generational people. They just need feedback in a different
way.
In order
to work on an intra generational team and do well, we need
to be aware of their needs also, not just our own. Here is
what the boomers and matures (the gray hairs) value in team
work:
-
Being
on time – they really care that the work is done when we
say it will be done
-
Responsibility – that we do what we say we are going to
do when we say we will do it
-
Listening – use our bodies and our ears so they know
that we are truly listening to what is being said
-
Input
– they actually want our opinions
-
Treat
them like we like to be treated – even though the
“older” ones don’t act like they really want or need
compliments for the work they produce, they really
appreciate them the same way we do. It feels good for
ALL people, whatever their age or experience, to get
positive feedback for the work they provide
I have
found that working with my generation is very cool. It
feels safe and comfortable. But I’ve also discovered that
working on a mulit-generational team has allowed me to grow
intellectually and to discover a wider world than just mine.
If you have
feedback about your own emerging and growing as a leader in our
next generation, please feel free to email me at
Natalie.Hoffmann@NatalieManor.com.
5.
Resources for Your ROADMAP(sm)
to Teambuilding
eBook with MP3-
"Teambuilding:
The 6 Steps to Creating, Communicating and Collaborating"
After 20+
years of helping leaders just like you with teambuilding
through coaching and training we decided to take all of our
content and record it.
Now you can take NMA’s tips and
techniques around teambuilding with you anywhere, anytime. For
the last few newsletters our theme has been around
teambuilding. We would like to offer you, our faithful
subscriber, our
“Teambuilding:
The 6 Steps to Creating, Communicating and Collaborating"
eBook with MP3 at a special discount.
With your special coupon code
offer NMA’s
“Teambuilding:
The 6 Steps to Creating, Communicating and Collaborating"
eBook with MP3 is now just $42.47
that is a 15% savings
off of the regular price of $49.97!
Go to
http://www.NatalieManor.com/shop/index.php?l=product_detail&p=1.
Once you add the
“Teambuilding:
The 6 Steps to Creating, Communicating and Collaborating"
eBook with MP3 to your cart type this coupon code:
TMBD053107 into the
dialog box called Coupon Code: and click on apply.
Could you use some support in
your performance management and leadership competencies?
The NMA Team and I would be delighted to be a resource for
you in building and navigating your
ROADMAP(sm)
to Leadership Excellence in your organization. Give us a
call at 800-666-2230 or email us at
Success@NatalieManor.com. We’d love to be a resource for
you and your organization.
NMA’s
ROADMAP(sm)
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Subscribe, please visit our website at:
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=============================================================
The NMA Team
NMA, Natalie Manor & Associates
NMA,
Natalie Manor & Associates is an organization of
consultants, corporate trainers and executive coaching
professionals who provide measurable results for our clients
in the areas of Leadership, Communication, Strategic
Planning and Cultural Development. To inquire about NMA’s
executive coaching, speaking, customized training,
facilitations and seminars for your group or organization,
or to schedule an initial consultation, contact us at:
Success@NatalieManor.com
Copyright (c) 2007, all rights
reserved.
U.S. Library of Congress ISSN: 1529-059X
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ROADMAP(sm)
if this copyright notice and full information for contacting
NMA, Natalie Manor & Associates are included. Contact us at:
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