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Article #353: Team Health Indicators

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The power teams can be equated to draft just a favored few?
horses. One can pull 5,000 pounds, but Are people being heard?
together they can pull 30,000. Yet too Do people listen as much as they talk?
often teams are implemented as an end Texas oil tycoon H.L. Hunt said that he
versus a means to an end. Teams have, in learned most of what he knew by
some circles, become a trend, implemented listening! Healthy teams are made of up
"because it's the thing to do." of people who have as much to hear as
While teams can create dynamic results, they have to say.
poorly implemented teams can produce A critical part of communicating is
disastrous results. listening to what's being said so that
The purpose of this article is to provide you can respond to input with information
a checklist on how well your teams are that is appropriate in terms of both
doing. Here are some ideas for renewal. content and spirit. And sometimes, an
Renewal doesn't come from carefully effective listener is all that another
written words, framed and hung on the person needs to clarify their thoughts or
wall. Renewal comes from your actions, release frustration.
the way you spend your time day in and Do people make the mistake of trying to
day out. Let's look at five indicators of listen and do things at the same time?
team health. Does body language indicate that people
Mission are open to input and non-judgmental?
Is there a clear purpose? Is everyone on Is there an open and trusting environment
the team engaged in a common goal? Is the in which people are given a fair hearing
team focused on the original objectives? for their thoughts and ideas?
What has changed since we started? Do we Is There a Rumor du Jour?
need to modify the original team charter A subtle but solid indicator of team
or operational guidelines? health is: how still are the jungle
Problem vs. Solution Orientation drums, how quiet is the rumor mill?
Are your problems more important than Healthy teams operate in an environment
solutions? Healthy teams spend more time where issues are openly discussed and no
working on solutions than defining one is excluded from the discussion.
problems. What's the difference? In a Individuals can inspire long lasting,
world of finite resources (time, energy positive result by what they do not say
and money), the more you concentrate on in casual conversations. An Enlightened
analyzing problems, the fewer resources Leader models this behavior by only
you'll have to develop solutions that speaking what is true, what is kind, and
will propel your team forward. How much what is useful.
time does your team spend on these Do people speak in whispers around the
positive activities: Deciding how to copier, coffee pots, or water coolers,
close the gap between where the team is giving others a negative feeling about
now and where it wants to be what they're discussing?
Understanding what the team does best Are team members kept abreast of
Determining how successes can be built important issues and are concerns openly
upon for greater success addressed in regular meetings so that
Avoid "The Swamp" rumors aren't necessary?
Healthy teams celebrate success as soon Work Environment
as it happens and as often as it happens. A lot of searching has gone into defining
All too often the purpose, scope, or the kind of environment that enables
tasks of a team change, leading to an people go to work at peak performance.
environment that can be unfulfilling What percentage of the day is your team
because the target changes. We've heard actually performing at its peak? It would
this dynamic called "the swamp." be unreasonable to expect a sustained
Not every champagne moment needs to be performance of 100% effort, but what can
celebrated with a bottle of bubbly! But be done to make the environment more like
even small results deserve a moment of the one you've envisioned?
recognition, and the team can be rewarded Is everybody clear and following the
for successes during the journey. team's operational guidelines for each
This fosters continuous improvement, individual? Are people empowered? Does
encourages their continued efforts, and each person understand his or her role in
leads to higher performance because they accomplishing the objectives? Do they
see that their efforts won't be taken for have what they need to succeed?
granted. Celebration confirms the Review your values; is there mutual
sometimes taken-for -granted fact that respect for every individual and is there
success doesn't just happen; it's the a high degree of trust and openness?
result of initiative and follow through After reviewing these Team Health
on the part of team members. Look around Indicators, you may want to change some
your office: Does your team track daily things in your workplace. That's OK!
accomplishments on a prominently Healthy teams are in a process of
displayed sign where people can share continuous improvement. Follow the
their results? Does your team start principles of Enlightened Leadership and
meetings with a review of recent our team will enjoy a long and healthy
successes? Does your team recognize life.
accomplishments by all team members, not






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