What’s the difference between producing a great website and building great teamwork
It’s becoming more and more apparent to me that the world of creating websites is
not a technological endeavor or a design endeavor; instead, I’d like to think of it as a people endeavor.
Without the specific skills of inspiring, leading, and motivating a team with the purpose of producing a top-notch website, we cannot achieve a top-notch website. If the team is continually building on the strengths of the individual team members, and building structure and efficiency in its processes, it will achieve greater and greater success.
Here is some key information that I’ve recently learned about teamwork:
Creating a Common Purpose: Building teamwork begins with building a shared sense of common purpose. This strengthens the team by establishing direction which leads to more effective decision making, better problem-solving, enhanced ability to work through problems, and clearer communication. Without knowing where you are going, any road will get you there. Ask yourself, What is the team purpose.
Defining Individual Purposes: Understanding the overall purpose and the purpose of the individual members of your team will enable each individual to understand her/his role in the team as well as to value that role as a fundamental component of achieving the common purpose. If everyone doesn’t know their role, the chain will weaken. Ask everyone, what is your purpose and why is it critical.
Approaching Situations: Answering the “how” question before getting into the work will help align the team members responsibilities and create greater efficiencies. Each team memeber will have their own way of solving the problem and if the “how” discussion doesn’t happen then individuals will begin working on the solution before concentrating on working as a team.
Establishing a Team Vision: Using words in the present-tense to describe your team’s situation in the future is a powerful way to inspire the team to live up to the common purpose. Describe your vision for your team by setting a date in the future and establishing what will be the state of affairs on that date. Make sure you are positive, powerful, and writing in the present tense.
Making it a Process: Taking your processes through the 6 sigma process development steps will help to constantly improve them. The steps include: Design, Measure, Analyze, Improve, and Control.
Rinse and Repeat: Change management is always a stressful situation for everyone. Team members will flow through the four stages of change: uncertainty, anxiety, clarity, and consistency. As long as the leader stays consistent with her/his actions, the team will follow suite.
Here is an inspirational video regarding teamwork. The Power of Teamwork.