Business Case for Team Building
Teams provide the foundation for organizational effectiveness, but they won't work without mutual trust and a commitment to common goals. Teams possess more talent and experience, more diversity of resources, and greater operating flexibility than individual performers. Research in the last decade has proven the superiority of group decisions over those of even the brightest individual within an organization. However, when a team lacks harmony or the ability to cooperate, the quality and speed of decision-making suffers.
Successful teams must work together wholeheartedly.Trust among members, a sense of group identity, and a sense of group efficacy are the three conditions essential to a group's effectiveness, as identified by Vanessa Urch Druskat and Steven B. Wolff (Harvard Business Review, March 2001). Group identity is a feeling among members that they belong to a unique and worthwhile group. Group efficacy is the belief that the team can perform well and that group members are more effective working together than apart.
A direct correlation exists between harmony and productivity. Harmony in a team creates good feelings that are like lubrication for the brain; Efficiency goes up, memory is sharpened, and people can understand directions and make better decisions. Good team leaders know how to balance productivity with attention to developing strong relationships.
Business Case for Professional Presence
First impressions are 67 percent accurate. Research shows the most common reason cited by potential clients and customers for not working with a particular company is the first impression of that company. Most people allow three to four minutes for a salesperson to establish credibility. The three-part criterion is simple: appearance, communication skills, and the value of the service. If the appearance and the communication skills are poor, the sale is already lost because people stop listening.
In business, people are judged on their professional image before their level of performance or competence is determined. An individual's image comprises 55 percent of what is believed about them in business, according to research studies done by Dr. Albert Mehrabian of UCLA. This means that others believe the visual information we make available to them before they believe the actual content of the words spoken.
85 percent of financial success is due to skill in communication and relationship building. This means in order to be successful, a company must recognize the importance of professionalism as it affects the perception of its brand in the marketplace and ultimately the bottom line of the company.
Business Case for 360-Degree Feedback
As executives and managers move upward in an organization, technical skills are assumed. This means that enhanced leadership skills become pivotal to attracting, retaining, and growing talent; exceeding the competitive requirements of the marketplace; and increasing business revenues.
The 360-Degree Feedback Workshop identifies seven key competencies that comprise effective leadership. Each of these competencies are ranked from highest to lowest in each participant's report along with written feedback in each category:
- Knowledge - Understands and demonstrates expertise in all functional aspects of the position. Can address key challenges and issues based on a high level of competency.
- Leadership - Creates a compelling vision of the future and inspires others to follow his or her lead. Influences others and motivates the team to perform at its best, or motivates the team members to perform at their best.
- Innovation - Demonstrates flexibility and openness to new ideas and methods. Drives needed changes and helps others adapt to change.
- Building Talent - Delegates and provides challenging assignments and opportunities for development. Quickly and constructively addresses performance problems.
- Character - Builds trust by treating others with respect, demonstrating openness and honesty, and acting ethically in all business practices. Puts the needs of the organization ahead of his or her personal agenda.
- Professionalism - Projects a credible and appropriate impression. Displays confidence, tact, and diplomacy when dealing with others.
- Execution - Takes ownership for solving problems and making timely decisions. Follows through on commitments and responds to others in a timely fashion.