7 Team Building Thoughts

Posted on October 6, 2011 by Anil Salick

Success in growing your business is about collaboration and working together with others. However independent we may be, we need others to move us to the next level. These may require “think big” ideas that we just cannot achieve alone.

Working together in some sort of team/ network is becoming more and more relevant for success today.

Here are some of my thoughts about teamwork, team building and team dynamics learned over the years working with different teams:

  1. A team is a ‘group of people working towards a common purpose’. Is your purpose clear? Does everyone know the game plan, strategy and scoreboard?
  2. Teams are mostly considered natural teams. But, there are other types of teams: (Interdependent teams (rugby, soccer, cricket etc); Independent teams (chess, boxing, bowling, sales people); Self managed teams (decisions made by consensus, voting, delegating); Project Teams (usually for a period of time); Virtual Team (online, all over the world)). Are you part of a team?
  3. Teamwork starts with leadership, and appropriate management. Based on the type of team, there may be more or less management required. Nothing however will compensate for leading, inspiring and providing direction.
  4. Great team leaders win the team over ‘one at a time’. In other words, they spend one on one time with each member.
  5. Great team leaders move team players from dependence to independence within the team. That means they nurture, coach and develop both competence and character.
  6. Successful teams which are independent and well functioning may become interdependent, which is how synergy happens. Synergy is the result of interactions that make the whole greater than the sum of its parts. In other words: 1+1= 3, 5, 10 and more.
  7. Successful teams measure and analyse the team strengths and weaknesses, and make plans to improve these – linked to objectives and outputs for that team.

Successful teams produce successful organisations which produce successful customers, which means a company that is ‘built to last’. Working alone, or dependent or independent – one would not be able to make the shift to greatness.

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You get better and better everytime you keep at it

Posted on September 29, 2011 by Anil Salick

Have you noticed that when you do something once, or for the first time, you’re likely to think that you just not ‘that good’ at it? And if we stopped right there, we would form a negative belief congruent with that performance.

Growing up, all I wanted to be was a boxer – a champion of the world. I followed the champions on the telly, dreamed about it, spoke about it, shadow boxed and yes – got into some school fights. Genetically, perhaps I lacked the potential – but my dreams compensated for what I lacked. Life though has a way of bringing certain things into our lives that are helpful and more important at certain times. So, this aspiration and expression was repressed to whatever else was priority.

Recently, I decided to seek the help of a personal trainer who sat me down and discussed my health goals and aspirations. One of the exercises he suggested to help me achieve my goals was to incorporate boxing into my workout sessions. He explained the benefits of boxing, but cautioned that it was harder than most think.

I looked forward to my first workout session. I thought I inwardly possessed rhythm, beat and snap to get into the groove easily. Within 15 minutes, I realised I was sorely wrong. The hour session included the punching bag, hitting my trainer’s mitts, quick squats and ducking, jabs, combinations, uppercuts, sprints, walking lunges etc. After the first session – my spirit was shaken, somewhat broken: this was indeed tough – demanding fitness, cardio, sharpness, pace, endurance, breath, intensity, mental toughness, listening and more.

But my second session was brilliant. Somehow my muscles had learned how to respond, I was mentally tough, sharp, hard and responsive. It was almost as though my brain had accepted and adapted to what is expected. At the end of the workout, I felt like a million bucks. This motivated me to look forward to session after session, and continue working my way to achieving my goals.

“That which we persist in doing becomes easier – not that the nature of the task has changed, but our ability to do has increased.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

The way to begin, is to begin. The key to succeeding is not to quit early. Keep at it. Learn. Notice how you feel, whether it makes you strong. That probably speaks to your interest/ passion. If it does, its good for you.

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Use your Resource and Initiative

Posted on September 27, 2011 by Anil Salick

How often is it, that when something needs to be fixed or sorted out, we refrain from getting involved, thinking, “That’s a job for someone else, perhaps an expert”? Our approach becomes a passive one, handing responsibility and solution to someone else. What if we used our resources and initiative?

On Sunday, my daughter alarmed me to news that our washing machine was leaking and causing a spill on the floor. I took a look and saw that she was right; so we gathered some towels around to soak up the spill. My wife was away for the day, and I noticed that there was clothing in the machine – so, I was hopeful that the problem was somehow related to something she had done, or the clothes in there. I was reluctant to open the machine and consider that we may need the services of a technician.

When my wife came back home, she tried spinning the clothes and determined that the problem was with the machine. She heard the sound of a distinct leak. So, in comes me as the DIY guy. Got the screwdrivers out, opened the machine and noticed the leak was on a ‘certain part’. Then closed the water supply mains to the washing machine.

So, now that I knew what the fault was, I wondered how that could be repaired/ replaced. I tried to use the end of a hot soldering iron to melt a similar type of plastic to the pinprick hole (fault) on the part. It looked so well done after I had finished, but once I turned the water on – the pressure of the water created the hole again. I tried to improve the ‘weld’ but resigned to the fact that the part needed to be replaced.

I then went onto the internet to find the name of the part to be replaced. I succeeded: “Water Inlet Valve”. I then found a local site which took my query and sourced providers. On Monday morning I got a call notifying me that the part cost of R220.00. However the company had no stock. Today, I was able to find a great supplier (Tecsa/ www.tecsa.co.za) who had the part for R132.00. Bought the part and replaced it. The washing machine works perfect. My marriage is still intact;-)

By simply using some “R&I”: resource and initiative, I was able to solve the problem inexpensively. No ‘call out charge’, ‘no marked up parts’. Admittedly, this is not possible for all, but the moral of the story is that we can, and perhaps should, try our best first before seeking the help of someone else.

This is true in the workplace, where some team members may have a blame mentality and shift responsibility to management to sort out their challenges. Every one needs to learn the lesson: “Use your Resource and Initiative”.

 

 

 

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Durban Business Fair 2011

Posted on September 23, 2011 by Anil Salick

Durban Business Fair 2011

 

Synergistic Outcomes is participating in the Durban Business Fair (formerly known as the Ethekwini SMME Fair) for the 4th year.

The Durban Business Fair boasts being the leading small business event in Southern Africa, where small business owners are given the opportunity to showcase their products and create awareness for their services.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Synergistic Outcomes is in stall number 47.

Synergistic Outcomes at the Durban Business Fair 2011

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Don’t be nice, be fair

Posted on September 1, 2011 by Anil Salick

My insurance broker once taught me this lesson. He advised me to write this out and paste it on the whiteboard in my office, where I could see it always.

If you’re a leader, manager, parent, administrator or someone with responsibilities, this is important advice that can help you do the right thing.

These are some problems or accusations we may be facing:

  • “Why did you give the customer such a large discount?”
  • “You promised the customer delivery on the order much earlier than our normal terms and conditions”
  • “You took sides on that issue because of your relationship with that person”
  • “The contract stated the following… why did you give more?”
  • “You seem to have your favourites and the rest are treated differently”

We make concessions because we wish to be……… “nice”.

Some of the reasons for wanting to be ‘nice’ and not ‘fair’, may include: Continue reading →

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