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Teams under stress seek relief
Faster. Leaner. Every day, teams are challenged to do more with less…and I need it yesterday! Studies are showing that workplace stress has reached new heights and it’s fairly obvious to recognize that higher stress levels increase the possibility of mistakes at work...
Why Team Building?
I recently read an article that posed the question “is team building a waste of time?” In the article, one of the problems stated was that the exercises did not translate into their current project and issues. This is a key component when identifying the right team...
The Power of Huddles
According to Verne Harnish in his bestselling book, “Mastering the Rockefeller Habits” regular daily meetings is crucial to a company’s success. Team Huddles are short 15-minute meetings where each team member shares their number one priority of the day and important...
How can I resolve a conflict?
When you’re in a conflict or confrontation it can be hard to think straight, making it hard to resolve the situation appropriately. Here’s a quick easy acronym to help: LEAF (Listen, Empathize, Action plan, Follow through) ListenA simple and perhaps obvious, but often...
Employee Involvement, What I Wish I Knew 20 Years Ago (Part III)
In my previous two articles, I related some of the key learning points that have been pivotal to my understanding and application of employee involvement and teambuilding concepts. These are the basics that, to me, make it work. I would like to continue this...
Appreciative Team Building: Creating a Climate for Great
Collaborationby Jay K. Cherney, Ph.D.(Published April 2, 2003) SummaryUsing Appreciative Inquiry with teams creates a climate that sustains synergy and collaboration. The principles and steps of appreciative inquiry are presented and compared with traditional...
Team Building Through Bike Building: A Perfect Gift For the Holidays
by Dolores Woodington I recently attended a team building program in Chicago. 130 participants from a major financial lending institution came together to take part in a team building activity to help build teamwork, relieve stress, and give back to the community. I...
When Brainstorming Ends Too Early
We’ve all sat through brainstorming sessions, and I bet this situation sounds familiar: Someone poses the question or problem and people throw out ideas for a couple minutes. Someone writes them down on a list or flipchart. This continues until a really popular idea...
Brainstorming 101 – How to Stretch Your Team’s Capacity for Innovation
by Peter B. Grazier Editor’s Note: Through the years we have had the opportunity to work with teams and other groups needing to find new solutions to problems or innovative approaches to their work. We are always impressed with the results. We have also been surprised...