EMPOWERING

QUESTION

Obed Asamoah-Gyarko
@obedasagy
 STEPS IN
SUCCESSFUL TEAM
BUILDING
A team is more than just a group of people who
work together. It's a dynamic unit working
towards common goals, sharing responsibility
for outcomes. Team building is a nuanced
process involving the selection of members,
fostering relationships, and steering the
collective effort towards achieving shared
objectives. It's a journey from assembling
diverse individuals to forming a cohesive unit
that capitalizes on collective strengths and
expertise.
Benefits of Team Building

1 Team building aligns 2 Leverages untapped

individual efforts towards knowledge and expertise,
complex tasks, ensuring a enhancing the team's
unified approach to overall capability.
problem-solving.

3 4
Builds on the
complementary strengths
of members, leading to
outcomes beyond
individual capabilities.
Boosts morale as members
feel supported, fostering a
productive and positive
work environment.
Action Checklist for Team Building

1
Consider if forming a team is the most effective approach for
the task at hand.

2
Clearly outline the goals and the requisite skills needed to
achieve them.

3
Consider the number, cultural backgrounds, and skill sets
of potential team members.
Building a Trusting Team
Environment
Trust Climate
Nurturing a team culture where trust is paramount encourages learning from
mistakes rather than assigning blame.

Open Communication
Clear, frequent communication is essential for integrating team efforts with
business objectives.

Resource Availability
Ensuring the team has the necessary resources and materials to complete their
work is crucial.
Team Building Strategy Planning

Training Objectives Alignment Feedback Culture

Specialist training
may be necessary to Objectives should be Providing
equip the team with clear to all team constructive
the skills required for members, ideally feedback helps
their tasks. involving them in the address problems
setting process. and acknowledges
achievements.
Roles & Tasks
Time Management Clarity on individual
Allocating time for roles and tasks is
coordination, idea essential for team
development, and effectiveness.
progress monitoring
is vital.
Stages of Team Development
The initial stage where team
members come together
and start to understand the
team's purpose.
Conflicts are resolved, and
effective working practices
are established.
1
2
Team members work
through issues and
3 differences as they arise.
4
The team achieves its
objectives and operates at
its peak.
Establishing Ground Rules

Strengths &
Motivations
Identify what Leaders should
Discuss and agree drives each team see themselves as
upon the Identify what
member and their Leaders
part should
of the team,
foundational rules drives each team
individual see themselves as
contributing
that will govern member and their
strengths. part of theothers.
alongside team,
team operations. individual contributing
strengths. alongside others.
Monitoring Team Progress

Check Objectives
Regularly review the team's progress towards its set objectives.

Meeting Timing
Schedule meetings thoughtfully to ensure they are productive and timely.

Dissolve Team
Once objectives are met, appropriately conclude the team's mission.
Potential Pitfalls in Team Building

1 Immediate Performance 2 Dominance Issue

Leaders should be wary of
Avoid expecting a new team to dominating the team's work,
perform effectively immediately. whether intentionally or not.

3 Creativity Stifling 4 Role Confusion

Exercising excessive control can Not addressing the influence of
hinder the team's creative process. formal and informal roles can lead to
confusion.
Continued Pitfalls in Team Building

1 Loss of Focus 2 Exclusivity Danger

Allowing the team to lose sight of the Teams that become too insular risk
tasks at hand can derail progress. losing touch with the broader
organization.

3 Individual Credit 4 Overdependence

It's important to ensure that Relying too heavily on team building
individual team members do not activities can be counterproductive.
take credit for team achievements.
Effective Team Selection

Skills Experience Cultural Fit

Technical expertise Prior team roles Alignment with team values

Problem-solving ability Project management Communication style

Collaborative mindset Industry knowledge Diversity of perspectives

Encouraging Good Working
Relationships
Supportive Culture Shared Goals Conflict Resolution

When team members are

Creating an environment united by common Encouraging open
where team members feel objectives, collaboration is dialogue and resolving
valued and supported is more likely to be effective conflicts quickly helps
key to fostering good and enjoyable. maintain healthy working
relationships. relationships.
 Maximizing Team Expertise

1 5+ 90%
Expertise Ideas Utilization
Number of experts in the team. More than five new ideas Percentage of team
generated per meeting. expertise utilized in
projects.
Boosting Team Morale

Celebration Support Peer Support

Recognizing achievements Personal encouragement Support from peers is just
boosts team morale and from leaders sustains as important for
encourages further success. motivation and confidence. maintaining high spirits
within the team.
Fostering Creativity and
Problem Solving
Idea Generation
Encouraging members to collaboratively generate ideas fosters innovation.

Problem Solving
Working together on problem-solving strengthens the team's ability to tackle challenge

New Approaches
Finding new ways forward keeps the team adaptive and forward-thinking.
Breaking Down Communication
Barriers

Open Dialogue
Promoting open dialogue helps to break down communication barriers
between team members.

Healthy Competition
Encouraging healthy competition without rivalry fosters a supportive team environm

Interdepartmental Unity
Avoiding point scoring between departments strengthens overall organizational unity
Empowering Team Members

Individual Empowerment Collective Empowerment

Empowering each team member When the team as a whole feels

individually raises their level of empowered, they are more likely to take
engagement and contribution. ownership of their tasks.
Enhancing Task Ownership
1 Engagement
Enhanced engagement with
tasks leads to a greater sense of
ownership among team
members.
2 Ownership
Ownership of tasks encourages
accountability and dedication to
achieving team goals.
Defining Team Objectives

Objective Strategy Outcome

Improve efficiency Streamline processes Increased productivity

Enhance creativity Foster innovation New product ideas

Expand market share Target new demographics Growth in customer base

Team Composition Considerations

Cultural Diversity Skill Sets Team Size

Each member's skill set The number of people in a
Considering cultural contributes to the team's team can affect its
backgrounds enriches the overall strength and dynamics and effectiveness.
team's perspective and capability.
approach.
Team Building Strategy Aspects
Trust
Establishing a climate of trust is a
vital part of the team leader’s
role.
Training
Specialist training equips the
team with necessary skills and
fosters interpersonal abilities.
1
2 Communication
Clear and frequent
communication promotes better
3 integration and understanding.
4 Time Management
Allocating time effectively is
essential for coordination and
development.
Resource Allocation for Teams

Materials
Ensuring teams have the materials they need is fundamental to their success.

Information
Access to information allows teams to make informed decisions and progress.

Technology
Providing the right technology can streamline processes and enhance collaboration.
Clarifying Tasks and Roles

Task Clarity Role Definition Respect for Roles

Defining what tasks need

to be done ensures that Understanding one's role Respecting assigned roles
team members are aware within the team helps and tasks is crucial for
of their responsibilities. prevent overlap and maintaining team
confusion. structure and function.
Providing Constructive Feedback

Positive Focus Improvement Areas Continuous Learning

Feedback should highlight Identifying where Viewing feedback as a

positive aspects before improvements can be learning opportunity
addressing areas for made helps team fosters a culture of
improvement. members grow and continuous improvement.
develop.

Obed Asamoah-Gyarko
@obedasagy