Do You Have A Great Team?

"If I want something I have never had...

 I have to do something I've never done."

- Joe Sabah

Do you have a great team? If you, with conviction, say "absolutely", then no need to read any further.

But if you answer the question "yeah, no, or kind of"  - you are responsible for it. Yes you created this team you manage (or hopefully coach) and you have to take ownership for it.

You cannot solve any problem until you take ownership of it.

We all "say" we want a great team , a team of A Players, because deep down inside we know that a great team will build a better, more profitable company and at the same time do it with less stress, chaos and drama. But knowing is not enough - it takes doing.

Leaders of Great Teams create and then retain them by doing the following:

• They are always recruiting, building a virtual bench.
   
• They are coaching (focused on helping the employee), not trying to manage (focused on results and dragging everyone else along).
   
• They are having Weekly Coaching Conversations - 10 to 15 minutes with each direct report, each week focused on the employee, what their goals are, and how to help them get better at what they do.
   
• They don't answer questions - they have an open door but the employee explains the situation and shares "what I intend to do" rather than you simply telling them what to do.
   
• They are having Weekly Huddles each week sharing goals and values and following up on projects.
   
• They create an environment where there is:
• Consistency
• Autonomy
• The Pursuit of Mastery
• A Core Purpose shared by all
• Trust
• Truly Listening
• Appreciation
• Goal setting
• Accountability
• Peer respect (All A Players)

Here is a 54 minute MP3 audio from Steve Chandler (I promise you will think he is talking about you) on what most of us do today (what I did as a leader) and then what to do to create the Great Teams above. Listen in the car or grab a sandwich and do it over lunch. You cannot outperform your knowledge so pick some up here.

But remember knowing is not enough - you have to do (take action).

Regards,

Rick