Read here Thoughts - Tips - Including 5 aspects of successful teams

INTRODUCTION: Staying Behind or Boarding

It is an uncertain time. There is panic left and right. You're probably already starting to gag when you hear the word 'Corona'. While one person does everything they can to limit the damage, the other's trade comes to a complete standstill. This, while there are also companies with top turnovers. In this blog of approximately 1950 words (about 7 minutes reading time) you will find 'Thoughts – Tips – and 5 Aspects of successful teams'. Because after 'Corona' it will be Stay Behind or Get In, you and your team decide 'How' you are going to achieve this.

THE REALITY: In addition to running, especially NOW also take a moment to stand still

It is a period of 'People's Work' at its best. No matter how you look at it, everyone needs luck, but luck alone won't get you there. Fortunately, a lot can be made, according to some American Gurus 'EVERYTHING' can be made. However, research shows that approximately 50% is determined by your background, your OMA is very decisive in this (OMA is an abbreviation for Beliefs, Opinions, Assumptions), 10% by the circumstances (well, I already wrote; we are all lucky necessary). So that approximately 40% remains that is feasible and with which we can make a difference.

NOW is the time to reflect on this, to zoom in. Because no matter how dark the clouds are, different times will come, most likely preceded by an Economic Crisis.

Many people are currently required to work from home. I often hear and read in the media that this will be the breakthrough for working from home. Fine, but I still want to add something to that. Working from home seems fun, but it is not for everyone. While one person may do his or her work at home in a relaxed manner, the other person may feel uneasy and lonely.

I once had an applicant for our field service in the Northern Netherlands region. We had an excellent candidate. When he heard that our office was in Groenlo (he lived in Groningen, nice and central in his district), an unexpected hitch arose. He absolutely wanted to come to the business every day to consult with colleagues before he went on the road. He enjoyed 'being on the road' as part of his job, but could not stand working from home for 4 days. He thought that one day at the office for coordination was far too little. We came to the conclusion together that it wasn't going to work.

Currently people have no choice, they have to work from home.

Perhaps you were already used to working from home, does this also apply to your colleagues? Therefore, please pay extra attention to your people during these days. Every person is different and everyone has a different attitude. Give the people who need some extra attention this 1-on-1 attention and consciously make time for it. Skype, Teams, Zoom (I also now have a subscription) are great options for Face-timing. I think the 'goodwill' you cultivate will soon pay off. Whether this is Internal or External does not matter.

Back to my story. We are busy cleaning up the SOY (Shit Off Yesterday) and keeping the work on track today. I currently speak to clients every day to catch up, hear what they are encountering or take a moment to brainstorm together. There is one certainty at the moment and that is that we are all facing uncertain times.

Do you also offer a listening ear and proactively give 'quality time' to relationships? Find out what you can help with, because together we are strong. I hope with this blog to encourage people to take more targeted action together.

THE ADDITIONAL CHALLENGE: How do you deal with uncertainties?

What I hear is that 'in addition to performing today' there is an additional challenge; How do we ensure that we are always ready as a team to take on the challenge of a situation in times like these that feels like juggling because the experience is lacking.

What I would like to ask your attention for is to make time and focus your vision on the future despite all the current uncertainties. This will feel very awkward for many (we are primarily 'doers'), but you are laying the foundation for the future. Tip: spend at least 25% of your current working day on this to create a 'forward-looking memory', as it were, and then take action on it. Have you ever noticed that a 2000 piece puzzle is easier, faster and more fun to do with a picture of the end result in your hands. Standing still was never an option, but now you certainly no longer have any doubts about this. We live 'on' a world that is flat again, we actually live in a large village, and everything that is not useful disappears. Natural selection?

How do you deal with this as a team? To know more, read on; 

YOUR OWN SQUARE METER: compared to that of colleagues

People like to concentrate on their own function. Positions such as Account Manager, CFO, CPO, Product Manager or Logistics Manager (and we could go on and on). That is good because the focus is on the work and that provides guidance and certainty when defining tasks and responsibilities, so that you can switch quickly. That is why you can be productive at home. Although unfortunately that can also be a pitfall.

'Working with focus' and 'depth' in the job has led to more and more specialist positions. This way we get the most out of it, get into a flow faster and achieve better results. But then on that proverbial 'own square meter' and that is where the danger immediately lies.

I hope that your company employs many specialists who are driven, enthusiastic and passionate about helping customers move forward. I hope even more that they go through life with an open mind and work intensively with colleagues. Everyone has to deal with their own specific tasks, which means that subconsciously different interests may play a role, while everyone sincerely has the best intentions with regard to the company. Failure to recognize and acknowledge these different interests makes the difference between 'oil or sand' in the gears. A bit like the difference between the TV commercial between the left and the right Twix. Different 'self-interests' can lead to great mutual annoyance. It requires mutual coordination, give and take, knowing each other's strengths and weaknesses. A good team has one heartbeat, so to speak. How good is your team and do you have “employees”, “collaborators”, “collaborators”, “collaborators” or a mix? I sincerely wish you many “collaborators”.

THE DEPTH: Which aspects play an important role within teams?

1) What is the importance of a good team?

2) What makes successful companies pay attention to this?

3) Which 5 aspects play an important role within teams?

Ad1) What is the importance of a good team?

The world is changing at a rapid pace.

-A life without a smartphone is no longer conceivable and with the arrival of 5G it will soon be even faster, so make sure you are ready.

-More than 30% of all knowledge of every recent graduate will be completely irrelevant and outdated within 3 years. (Source: MT October 24, 2019 | How much is the transcript of a recent graduate really worth) Note: When did you graduate? And your “collaborators”? How do you learn from and with each other?

-There is now a great demand for, among other things, data specialists and people who develop the software that will ensure that they themselves will become redundant in 5 to 10 years. The artificial intelligence can then simply do it better, smarter and faster. Back to your company: Can everyone within the company deal with the many changes that are coming? Waiting for people to fall over is not an option.

In short, this time is not fun for many people. They laugh but are not having fun, they have stress, anxiety and burnout symptoms. They would rather have peace, but realize that this will never come back. That is why you need a team that takes care of each other like a 'FAMILY', but also takes care of progress. There's nothing 'soft' about that. Self-determination theory states that humans have three innate basic psychological needs. These basic needs are autonomy, relatedness and competence. By working together on this, everyone will achieve their full potential. A nice side effect: there is less turnover within a successful team and it also attracts other people who would like to contribute. This in turn increases your lead over other employers in the battle to attract mega-talents. This also gives your team(s) the opportunity to develop further.

Ad2) What makes successful companies pay attention to this?

Due to rapid changes, people will have to be continuously proactive about their work, training and further education. If not, the question is: When do you get out?

It has been known for more than 25 years, including by Daniel Goldman of “Emotional Intelligence”, that it is not the people with the highest IQ who are successful, but people who know how to combine IQ with a good EQ. I would like to add something to that: Having the 'slog factor'. Persevere to achieve success, but SMART. In my opinion, EQ and the 'plodding factor' are becoming increasingly important, as well as how you work together as a team. The right team makes the difference between good and excellent. Every company is as successful as the people who work there and the performance they deliver.

Ad 3) Which 5 aspects play an important role within teams?

-A clear Vision, Mission, Strategy from the board (not having it causes 'confusion'). It should lead to a clear plan from the team (unless you want chaos, in which case you should not have this made clear). How clear are the Vision, Mission and Strategy for you? Anyway, to what extent do your 'collaborators' endorse this?

-Having good knowledge of yourself and the other team members is 'key'. Empathy and mutual understanding play an important role in this. Every person has their own perception or image of reality and this can cause a lot of ambiguity. Therefore, make sure that problems within the group NEVER get old.

-Self-confidence as a team member and confidence in mutual cooperation makes the sum of the parts greater. Just look at the well-known time trials in cycling rounds because people inspire, stimulate and challenge each other. What do you contribute to strengthening the self-confidence of your people?

-Flexible yet decisive. If not counterclockwise, then rightward or perhaps straight through, but together, because tomorrow can look completely different and we will also have to make that day a success together. This requires a resilient team.

-The desire to continuously improve, to set the bar high, to always keep the goal in mind and to keep each other connected, without this leading to aggression, overconfidence or burnout. In addition to great mutual trust, this also requires courage.

In the future it will increasingly be about making choices. An open door? It will be Stay Behind or Get In. Have a discussion about it with your team!! Find out what they think and, above all, that 'seemingly small improvements' can lead to big results.

FINALLY:

Did this blog make you think?

Please share it with colleagues, MT, DT, your business network, your LinkedIn downline. My goal is to help as many entrepreneurs, enterprising salespeople, enterprising managers and their teams emerge from this time successfully.

Koos Minnema
k.minnema@kennethsmit.com
06-51965959

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