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Philosophy
– Keep
it simple. |
It
is remarkable what people can accomplish if you just ask!
By providing your team with a few simple pieces of information: the
knowledge of what is needed and expected and why; the tools to
complete the task; the authority to proceed, and; the knowledge that
perfection is not always obtainable. Your team can and will consistently
bring home the gold. This
happens provided that you do one thing: ask.
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There
is always enough time.
So often time becomes an issue. It is not really the time that is the
issue but it is the perception. Time is fixed. We cannot change the amount
of time in each day. We can
only impact the resources, people and tools brought to the table. Plan for
and establish expectations accordingly.
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Knowledge
is key! Allow
everyone to learn; it is not enough to simply encourage your team to
expand their knowledge. They must be encouraged to take the opportunity to
understand what they do and how they impact the environment (results) for
themselves and the team around them.
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The greatest impact is achieved
through evolution, not revolution. That is
not to say that revolution is not sometimes required, but that when change
is controlled and the small improvements are added over time, big results
are produced. When revolution is necessary expect that it will not be
perfection but realize that subsequent evolutionary change (adjustment)
will lead to the desired results.
The
buffalo herd analogy: ... A herd of buffalo can only move as fast as the slowest buffalo. When
the herd is hunted, it is the slowest and weakest ones at the back that
are killed first. This natural selection is good for the herd as a whole,
because the general speed and health of the whole group keeps improving by
the regular killing of the weakest members.
This
analogy can be applied to every process and task confronting the team
every day. It is the evolution of change that supports the continuous
improvement (evolution) needed to stay ahead of the competition and to
provide the return to investors or members.
Strive
to improve daily.
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When
immediate change (revolution) is required,
return to an evolutionary environment as quickly as possible. It makes
things more comfortable and allows all to improve daily.
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Team Building – the ratchet effect. Staff selection or team building as it is
often called is also an evolutionary process. Selection is not simply
identifying and hiring the best candidate. It is ongoing.
As the strong out pace the weak, we must endeavor to identify the
weak and bring them back into the herd through training and education. As attrition
and weeding of the weak takes place, the team’s overall skill level and
ability is improved. Our next selection must recognize this. The bar has
been raised and we must select candidates that on average are better than
the average of the incumbent team. If we have done our job well, we will
have established a new “weakest link”. The team member that was just
ahead of the weakest member is now at the back of the herd. And so the
cycle continues, each time resulting in a stronger more knowledgeable
team. Each cycle a step up the ratchet.
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