The pride of ownership
DOES YOUR team, like the economy today, crawl around the office? Are you constantly struggling to get new ways to make them perform better? And finally run out of ideas to boost their spirits? Offering teams short-lived spirit boosters doesn't take them and you a long way. As long as the underlying problems are dealt with in an offhand manner, boosters don't pay off. The key to raising team spirit is to focus on areas where you can make an impact.
One effective way of doing this is to make employees choose their own projects and make them `project owners'. That would get them to be more involved with the project. It is a way of telling them that their opinions matter to the company. However, providing them with a wide range of choices could leave the team directionless and the initiative might drift away from the company objectives. So limit the range of choice.
How do you narrow down the scope?
To start with, set some ground rules. Give them a predetermined budget and the time frame. Let them know that whatever they undertake has to be delivered within the stipulated time. A tight budget might require them to consider process improvement and efficiency that can be brought out of the existing system.
Next, invite proposals from each team member. Over meetings and discussions, talk about the pros and cons of the various proposals. Let the team choose from the options available.
Deal with it like a regular project
Regardless of the project chosen, treat it like you would any other project. Let it go through the usual process, for approval etc. Discuss the project in your regular status meetings. Choose one of the trusted team members to be the lead. This will give your team a clear sense of ownership. Check the project's status time and again. Help the members to keep up to deadlines and to stay within the set budget.
What next?
Right at the outset make sure your superiors and colleagues know that your team members had come up with the idea for the project. After its completion give them all the credit for its success. This open accreditation is a great spirit booster.
Based on the result of the first trial project, you can initiate other projects.
Conclusion
Remember that you are trying to make winners out of a team that doesn't see light anywhere. It might be difficult initially to sell a new concept to such a team. But it is not impossible. Stay determined and make it work. Keep your efforts focussed and targeted and you are sure to end up with a self-motivated and ever enthusiastic team.
MARIA JAMES
opportunities@cnkonline.com
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