Posts by Jen Butler, MEd, BCC, DAIS

Some teams develop naturally the way friendships develop; some need help along the way. The most effective teams are characterized by leaders who: Recognize the strengths and weaknesses of team members Set realistic goals that are prioritized, so as not to overwhelm or distract the team  Communicate clearly and often Embrace flexibility Make technology and…

Theodore Roosevelt, the twenty-sixth US President, recommended that nations “speak softly and carry a big stick.” His motivational theory goes all the way back to the farmer who prods his donkey forward with a carrot and a stick. But motivation is a lot more complicated than reward and punishment.   Motivation by Carrot Every member…

In their guide to managing human resources, University of Berkley educators offer this definition of performance management: “Performance management is an ongoing process of communication between a supervisor and an employee that occurs throughout the year, in support of accomplishing the strategic objectives of the organization. The communication process includes clarifying expectations, setting objectives, identifying…

When you team has a common vision, communicates well, receives training and mentoring, and reaches its goals, you have seen the benefits of team development. As part of a team development program, team building helps cement the connections between team members—if it is done well, with attention to the true concerns of the team. If…

The most effective team at the company regularly thanked each other for help, played cards together at lunch time (though the game took them over the regulation 30 minutes), and at the successful conclusion of one project presented their most math challenged member with a child’s counting book—which had everyone laughing, including the math challenged…

One definition of a team is a group of people with diverse skills and backgrounds coming together to reach an objective or goal. When a team is dysfunctional, it no longer acts as a group; diversity becomes an obstacle to overcome; and the objective or goal isn’t supported or doesn’t exist.   The First Signs…