BornEntrepreneur

For the longest time I had ignorantly convinced myself that I could operate a successful business all by myself. I would be the marketing guy, the finance guy, the web guy, the product guy, the sales guy—the everything guy. Eventually, though, I realized that it is necessary to involve others in your ventures. Why? Because it helps like crazy! It’s difficult to find good people, but when you do, you have got to stick with them through everything. Make it work. After all, there’s a reason you brought them on-board in the first place. When the team dynamic starts to get less than perfect, take action. Here’s a collection of tips/notes from the book, The Five Dysfunctions of a Team, that will help to keep your organization’s dynamic staying strong. It’s all about trust.

The Five Dysfunctions of a Team
by Patrick Lencioni

1. Team members must trust each other — share their weaknesses, admit their mistakes and concerns. (essential to good teamwork)
2. Why is trust so important? When there is no trust, there is fear of conflict which helps to sustain a false level of harmony in a group. You need to be able to practice constructive criticism.
3. If you truly want everyone behind an idea or strategy, EVERYONE needs to have offered their opinions and feel like they’ve been listened to. Then, they’re more likely to fully buy into the idea and commit.
4. Full consensus is not necessary. It creates too much conflict. As long as everyone has weighed in their views, they can buy in.
5. Don’t disparage someone behind their backs–ever. It degenerates trust among the people in the room. If you are talking about someone else, then those you’re speaking to thinks you may talk about them as well.
6. Trust definition – confidence that team member’s intentions are good. There’s no reason to be protective around the group. Trust makes you comfortable enough to open yourself to vulnerability.
7. How to build trust?

1. Personal History Exercise – Discuss siblings, hometown, unique challenge in childhood, fun hobbies, first job, worst job. Going around and having everyone share allows the team to relate better on a more personal basis which naturally translates to a better work dynamic.
2. Team Effectiveness Exercise - Each person identifies the single most important contribution they can make to the team.
3. Personality and Behavioral Preference Profile – Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) helps group understand the different ways in which each person operates.
4. Leaders must risk losing face in front of the team—demonstrates vulnerability.

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