subject: Small Business People Management: The Secret The Gurus Don't Tell You [print this page] The individual is the basic human unit in the workplace. Right? No; wrong. The team is. I know that we've spent decades focussed on individual performance. But no matter how good the individual employee is, he or she needs others' support to succeed ot work. You won't read or hear too much about this from the gurus. But that doesn't mean it isn't the reality.
The Great Heresy. The individual employee, no matter how clever or skilful, can't achieve much within a business by acting alone. We've been taught for decades that the individual is the basic human unit in the workplace. That's The Great Heresy. The basic human unit in the workplace is the group or team. That's the big secret.
You Can't Build Teams. Because the team or group is the basic unit, it simply exists. It can't be built. You're stuck with whom you've got. They're the people whose performance you're charged to develop. Forget individuals and team building. Concentrate on developing effective teams.
Team Goals Supersede Individual Goals. There's little value in having the best car salesman in the country if your overall car sales team doesn't meet budget. If the best player in the sports team you support is voted Most Valuable Player in the whole competition it's very small comfort if your team fails to reach the playoffs. To manage people successfully, you must decide what your team exists to achieve. You may have a number of employees. In that case you'll have more than one team. Each team needs its own goals.
Individual Roles and Goals. These must be based on team goals. You and the team can determine individual roles - who does what and how members' success is measured - only after team goals are agreed. And individual roles are interdependent. Success in each role is fully achievable only by success in all the others.
Clarity Is Essential. Every team member must be crystal clear on * what the team exists to achieve * what their role is in ensuring team goals are achieved * the roles of other team members * how achievement of team and individual goals will be measured.
Appropriate Systems. When goals and roles are clarified and agreed, you and the team can create the most appropriate systems to help achieve them. That includes systems for individuals to swap roles where necessary or where team goals require it.
Other Team Membership Issues. Support staff are part of the team they support. For example, the so called sales team isn't comprised only of salespeople. The clerical staff who support them are part of the same team. Some employees may be members of more than one team. This may occur due to work on special projects. But it may also be the case when the work of different teams is related.
Conclusion. The team is the basic human unit in the workplace. To gain focus and impetus in your people management you must understand this. And it will ensure that you don't overemphasise the development or the achievement of individuals to the detriment of the team and the overall business.
by: Leon Noone
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