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How To Have A Highly Productive Team

Written by: Lorraine Pirihi

Article Overview: Before you start complaining that your team are causing you headaches and not performing the way you want, take a look at yourself first. Gary who runs a plumbing business has 5 staff. He was always complaining that they were lazy, didn't use their initiative and would take advantage of him. We had Gary fill in our 'Productivity and Leadership Profile'. This process allows each team member to anonymously answer questions about how they see Gary in many areas including his leadership abilities, communication, organisation, etc. The process also allows Gary to answer the same questions on how he sees himself.

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How To Have A Highly Productive Team

Before you start complaining that your team are causing you headaches and not performing the way you want, take a look at yourself first.

Gary who runs a plumbing business has 5 staff. He was always complaining that they were lazy, didn't use their initiative and would take advantage of him.

We had Gary fill in our 'Productivity and Leadership Profile'. This process allows each team member to anonymously answer questions about how they see Gary in many areas including his leadership abilities, communication, organisation, etc. The process also allows Gary to answer the same questions on how he sees himself.

It turned out that Gary thought he was a good boss because he was easy to get along with. However the feedback from his team showed that he wasn't a good leader. The guys needed clear direction... someone to follow. They required a system, guidelines to work within and regular follow-up.
They never had a team meeting to discuss what was working well and how to improve things. The only time a meeting was called was when there was a customer complaint.

Before I share these tips with you, be aware that it is extremely important to hire the right type of people for your business in the first place. Many employers have the 'hire and hope' mentality. Because of their lack of time and poor planning, they often hire someone when they are desperate. After the person has been hired the employer hopes they work out.

1. Regular Performance and Incentive Reviews
Measure your team's achievements on a regular basis. Formally appraise the performance of each individual twice a year. Salary increases, bonuses and incentives should be based on these performance reviews.

2. Weekly Team Meetings
Learn how to run an effective meeting and have these weekly with your team. Have a set time each week. Ensure the agenda allows for their input.
3. Invest Time and Money Into Your Team
Invest regularly in their development, both technical and non-technical skills. The new-found knowledge can be extremely valuable to your business. By developing your people, they will also be more motivated.
4. Develop Your Own Leadership Skills
Turn yourself into a Masterful Manager. There are many skills required to be an effective manager... delegation, organisation and communication, etc. Participating in specific programs such as our Masterful Manager's Intensive Coaching Program will turn you into a powerful leader that gets results and maintains a happy, productive and high performing team.
5. Free Up Your Time
Stop with the 'busyness'. Get organised so you can invest the time and energy to attract and retain a high performing team. If you don't know how, don't worry... most people haven't got a clue!

The Final Word

Looking after the people in your business is vital to ensure its ongoing success... whatever 'success' means to you. A happy, skilled and motivated team if managed effectively will have a huge impact on your productivity and profits, not to mention your stress levels.
To continue doing the same thing and expecting a different result is the definition of insanity. So if you want to achieve different results, take action today and start looking after your no. 1 asset... your team.

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Home > Business-Coach > Lorraine Pirihi > How To Have A Highly Productive Team
Article Tags: boss, customer complaint, effective meeting, headaches, incentives, initiative, lack of time, leadership abilities, leadership profile, mentality, plumbing business, productivity, salary increases, team meetings, team member, time and money

About the Author: Lorraine Pirihi
RSS for Lorraine's articles - Visit Lorraine's website

Lorraine Pirihi, The Productivity Queen, is Australia's leading Productivity Specialist and creator of "The Productivity and Profit System TM" the complete one-on-one training program for solopreneurs and small businesses that shows business owners exactly how to work less and earn more!

To receive your F.R.E.E. CD & Report "3 Steps to Dramatically Reducing Your Workload and Stress While Maximising Your Profit$! ($77 value) go to http://www.productivityqueen.com

 



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Re: Anyone Uses Elance.com? Guru.com? Rentacoder.com? Re: Anyone Uses Elance.com? Guru.com? Rentacoder.com? - I've had quite a bit of success on oDesk.com. I've never used Elance so I can't compare. I like oDesk.com 'cos I get to sort thru people (e.g. within a certain bid range) with a single click. I find their help response very quick and I like the oDesk Team software that "providers" must install. This gives me the Buyer more insight as to what I am paying for. The Team software takes screenshots of the Providers screen on 10 min increments so I can see that the person is infact doing work for me.
How to you re-fresh yourself? How to you re-fresh yourself? - Productive time improvement is about increasing the time that you, your staff or your organisation has available for front-line service delivery; and making sure that time is being used to best effect - "working smarter" by: - doing the right things - (eliminate unnecessary work) - the right way - (use standard, streamlined processes) - with the right people - (right skills, availability, location) - using the right tools and equipment. But we all will agree that somewhere we don't follow these and give ourselves a break. When I give myself a break, I a. play online games b. chat on Internet c. Listen to some soft music What you do when you are not "working smarter"?
Re: Money Does Not Guarantee Happiness Re: Money Does Not Guarantee Happiness - Thanks for singling this point out, Chris. One book that comes to mind that covers it in an overall approach is "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People" by Stephen Covey. He addresses our inner life and the way it can change our effectiveness home and at work. There are corporations who have taken this model and effectively molded their business around it.
Re: FILL IN THE BLANK: One thing I did to grow my business today Re: FILL IN THE BLANK: One thing I did to grow my business today - Website: Posted a new article on my main business website and bookmarked it. Team: Contacted new affiliates and invited them to join my training list.
Re: Essential Leadership skills Re: Essential Leadership skills - Vision Values Mission Strategic Thinking Decision Making Communication Team Bonding People Development Coaching / Mentoring / Guiding / Grooming Presentation Thanks Robert


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