I had to opportunity to build a few teams and thought sharing the process here.
The opportunity
The opportunity typically arise in companies when a new functional group is needed or transferred over. This rarely happens in most established companies. It is more likely to happen in new start-ups or when a company starts growing beyond its initial size.
Image by Shandchem via Flickr
The need for a team
A team is needed because the task is beyond one single person.
Each of us have only 24 hours per day and need at least 5 to 6 hours of sleep. Also, thee is only so much mental energy we can expend in one day before we become mentally exhausted. The same with our physical ability.
Members
A team needs variety. Variety is a strength and a necessity. You need members who will lead and members who will follow. A team consisting of only leaders will not work because there will be constant bickering and the objective of the team can never be achieved.
The team objective can be broken into individual task that must be delegated and distributed among the members.
So in building the team, it is necessary to pick the right people. This will ensure that all members contribute and know the direction.
Leaders
Team leads or managers are humans too with all the limitation. A team that depends on the leader to do everything will fail. Leaders need help. They should be willing to ask for help when needed. At the same time, the leader should also lead and not depend on the team for everything. Team leaders need to lead and show direction.
Leaders should constantly encourage members to work together and promote harmony.
Discipline
A leader should reward members who are doing well but at the same time need to be stern with members who threaten or jeopardize the harmony of the team.
Final word
I believe I have a strong team now but still need to continue to identify and encourage members to do their part.
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