April 2009

Turn Team Sabotage into Team Strength

Without exception, among the teams with which I’ve worked, communication is cited as one of the major challenges. And it’s particularly problematic when multiple teams from across the organization are required to work together.

We’ve all seen reality shows like Survivor and The Amazing Race in which one team pits itself against the others to win the ultimate prize. Everyone is out for themselves.

Sadly, this trend also occurs among business teams—even when they all are supposed to be working for the collective good of the organization. For a variety of reasons—whether it be fear, territorialism or arrogance—communication suffers because people perceive they have something to lose by sharing too much. As a result, many businesses never experience the powerful results that true collaboration can bring.

I will never forget during one of my Recipe for Results team-building programs, one team member asking me, “Are we allowed to help another team?” Just the fact that the question had to be asked speaks volumes.

A cooperative approach must begin at the top. The corporate culture should foster and reward collaboration, not segregation. This requires more than lip service—it requires modeling the behavior.

In the end, people must walk their talk. Like it or not, in today’s corporate environment, trust is not something that can be assumed. It must be earned and proven. That’s where collaboration begins.

Put It into Practice:

Practice the four C’s of collaboration to experience the full power of teamwork:

1. Check egos at the door to foster open, honest dialogue.
    
2. Curb blame and defensiveness by encouraging and accepting constructive feedback.
    
3. Create common goals so everyone is aware of the desired outcome.
    
4. Consider the greater good of your organization.
    

Perform at Your Peak:

Explore the communication dynamics within your staff by signing on for our signature program, The Search for Success. Team members will participate in a scavenger hunt that will stimulate their levels of competition and camaraderie—and lead to important discoveries that can foster collaboration, encourage strategic partnerships and streamline work processes.

SPECIAL EVENT ~ If you are a Towson University alumni, you are invited to get a taste of this program at the Towson University Alumni Baltimore Area Networking Group’s Campus Scavenger Hunt & Networking Event, held May 13 at the Burkshire Marriott. Register today!

Ovations Inc. takes corporate teams out of the office to experience activities such as cooking, yoga, golf, scavenger hunts and more. Teams focus on various areas of peak performance and apply the learnings back to the work environment. Contact us to find out how can help take your team to the top.

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