Factor 8 – Team-Related Factors

part 2 | Chapter 10

faCtor 8: team-related faCtors

Teams that communicate well with one another, help each other solve problems, and support each other foster more engaged individuals .

From the time that a new-hire is on-boarded, ensuring that organic opportunities for positive relationship formation frequently present themselves is very impactful in terms of engagement (e .g . assigning buddies for the first couple weeks of on-boarding, consistent follow-up with new-hire by management, new-hire lunches, lunch with leaders, etc .) . Additionally, managers setting clear expectations for their teams regarding how they are to interact with one another plays a role here (i .e . what is acceptable and what is not – rules of engagement) . Hiring for personality also comes into play . If managers hire incompatible personalities as an addition to a team, the team dynamics will suffer .

posItIve reInforCement

Managers need to ensure that behavior of employees that represents coaching and mentoring, giving a helping hand, etc . are recognized and rewarded both publicly and privately to any employee demonstrating this behavior . Along with setting rules of expectations (generally rules of what not to do), it is equally as important for managers to define and reward what successful team member behavior looks like . This can be generalized as (1) being a solid team member (2) lending a helping hand (3) coaching and mentoring other team members (4) taking on team members’ workload when they are our sick or simply too bogged down to get to it (5) or anything else that represents being a good team member .

01

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Public and Private Recognition

02

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Rules of Engagement

03

________________________________________ Clearly defining successful behavior

REMEMBER: Define and reward the behaviors that you want your team members to exude, and you will have a team that works better together and, as an end result, are more engaged .

faCtor 8 summary

hoW Can We ensure that our team members form and maIntaIn good relatIonshIps WIth one another?

Rules of Engagement: Set clear expectations with each of your team members regarding how they are to engage with one another – what is acceptable and what is not – as well as discuss the importance of having good relationships with each other .

Drama and Chaos: Manage problems between team members as soon as they start . Have tough conversations and resolve the issue between team members before it gets any bigger . As our drama and chaos video discusses, do not tolerate drama between team members .

Positive Reinforcement: Reinforce positive team members behaviors and define what being a good team member is for your team .

Placement: Place team members with complimentary personalities together – those that naturally get along well . Separate those that do not .

Team Huddles: Hold daily team huddle meetings where you celebrate wins, discuss daily objectives, give team member encouragement, and anything else you feel you should talk about to build relationships or increase performance .

Food: Bring in food for your team from time to time and enjoy the food together as a team .

Celebrate: Celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, wins, and other milestones together as a team .

Stickies: Encourage stickies among your team members. It is not only important that you have conversations with and demonstrate to your team members that you care and have a genuine interest in them . It is also vital that team members do the same with one another . Have conversations with your team about the importance of stickies and encourage stickies in your daily huddles .

Genuine Relationships: Organic relationship formation opportunities .

On-Boarding Practices: Practices such as assigning buddies, consistent follow-up, new-hire lunches, etc .

Hiring Practices: Hiring for personality.