Taking your team from 0 to 60 mph in 4 seconds flat!

Would you like to turn your work group into a dynamic, highly motivated team with a small investment of time? You can get a great return on investment (ROI) if you follow the team building approach described by Lori Dernavich, president of Step Ahead Consulting, in her Feb. 9, 2006 presentation to the BSAS on “Taking your team from 0 to 60 mph in 4 seconds flat!”

A team offers big advantages over a group, said Dernavich. Group members don’t trust one another, they fear conflict, and lack commitment. This results in low standards and inattention to results. Wouldn’t you prefer a team? That’s where trust, healthy conflict, and commitment lay a foundation for accountability and attention to team goals.

Dernavich described a multi-step process of team building that could apply to just about any organization. One of the first steps is to conduct an “icebreaker” with your team. This can be completed with a new team or one that has been together for years. Ask members:

  • Where did you grow up?
  • How many children were in your family?
  • What was your most difficult or important childhood challenge?

Sounds a bit "touchy-feely," but their answers will lay the foundation for more empathy among team members and trust will begin to be established.

Want to learn more about Dernavich's methods? Contact her at 781-449-0564 or lori@stepaheadconsulting.com.

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Susan Weiner, CFA saves time for busy investment professionals by helping them to author articles, white papers, sales presentations and other publications. Contact her at susan@investmentwriting.com or read her blog at www.SusanCFA.blogspot.com