Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Choosing a Dream Team

Teams are the source of a great deal of the productivity and creativity within an organization. Because they are made up of individuals, teams achieve the best results when comprised of members who exhibit a certain skill set.

Let's assume that you have been asked by your manager to assemble the perfect team. The pool of candidates from which you can choose all have the same level of exceptional technical expertise, as well as fabulous resumes.

So, what are the other skills and abilities you would look for in a candidate when putting together your dream team?

I. The Ability to Listen:
And by listening, we do not mean the words alone. Colleagues give off subtle signs all the time; if you are only listening to what is being said, you are missing at least half of the message. The teammate who listens to what colleagues are saying, but also pays attention to facial expressions, voice control, and body language...in other words...the things that are not being said, is the person you want on your team. By the same token, a valued team member is aware of his/her own actions and how they are perceived by others.

II. The Ability to Coach:
One of the key characteristics of any good team player is the ability to keep feedback positive. An idea might be flawed, but the person sharing the idea is not. The best teammates know that constructive feedback, if handled well, is a good tool for identifying and resolving issues. Positive coaching can help turn a half-baked idea into a brilliant one. 

III. The Ability to Become an Effective Communicator:
How a person shares information, discusses important matters and encourages participation from others will determine his/her effectiveness on a team. In fact, you can drastically improve the quality and functionality of any team by padding it with as many effective communicators as you can get your hands on. Having good communication skills is invaluable; it's the common denominator, the common good of every successful team member.

The faculty at Ty Boyd Executive Communications & Coaching is comprised of experts in the fields of public speaking, business communications and individual coaching. The feedback and direction that our faculty provides empowers team members to make a dramatic difference. You can expect immediate returns when your team invests in a Ty Boyd course or coaching session. Take the lead with Ty Boyd.