*** 5 Tips for Building teams

There are many aspects to team building. The more that is applied the better the team will be. Here are five different aspects of team building that allow the team to keep going to the next level.

1. Competence - when a leader puts a team together he or she tries to pick the best people for the job. However the members of the team need to see that this is true and have confidence in each team member. Does everyone feel that everyone else has the knowledge and the skill to complete the tasks of the team or will be instructed or taught what they will need to know and when? Does the team feel they have resources to support the team?

2. Control - Does the team feel they have freedom and faith to make decisions? Does the team find solutions and is it asked for opinions? Freedom does not mean there is no control. It has the perception instead, of being trusted.

3. Collaboration - in most teams it is stressed to work together. But what does that mean? Part of this is looking out for each other and helping each other succeed. It is not doing the job for a member of the team but it is assisting each other. Everyone needs help at some time or another.

4. Creative Thinking - Is there new thinking allowed? This gets team members thinking and pumped up to accept change and to find better ways of getting the job done. Many times it is a slight adjustment that the team members will see often before the leader or coach. Listening often makes things easier on everyone.

5. Communications- There is a lot of talk about the leader being clear and that goals need to be understood and this is true. But what about the team members? They also need to be clear and concise when speaking to the leader and to each other. Plus they should be encouraged to speak to each other and not always bring things to the leader. This can also make the team closer.

This is the "C's" of team building. It about bringing the human characteristics into the team that is the only thing I believe that really cements a team.