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CASE HISTORY: FAST-TRACK TEAM DEVELOPMENT
INDUSTRY: Finance
SIZE: 5,000 Employees
CLIENT: Mid-Management Group (7 )
ISSUES: A new group of high caliber analysts has been formed to creatively identify and capture revenues that are currently being overlooked due to the size and complexity of the business. Members are all very intelligent and self-directed but have no central focus. Their contribution is sub-optimized by an unconscious absence of teamwork. The VP of Finance sees the unrealized potential of the group and needs help in bringing it out.
SOLUTION: Initial discussions with the VP and data gathering with the group reveal a strong desire to succeed but a lack of knowledge, skills, and framework for working as a team. The decision is made to invest in their development as a team. An off-site meeting is designed that will lay out and put in place a fast-track foundation for effective teamwork. This includes providing a framework for understanding the elements of teamwork -- Direction, Roles, Processes, and Relationships. During the workshop, a structured process is implemented to clarify direction and goals (over-arching and sub-group), clarify and negotiate mutual expectations, map out and agree on individual roles and responsibilities, gain a deeper understanding of individual work styles and how they affect communication, problem solving, and decision making, and develop a plan for more productively interacting with their customers throughout the organization.
RESULTS: The group is now working as a functionally integrated, well running team. Communication is strong and pervasive; information flows quickly, fully, and when needed. Customer interactions are integrated and coordinated. Problems are jointly addressed, where needed, and decisions now include those affected both in the office and among customers. A high degree of enthusiasm is evident. Plans for capturing more revenues are moving quicker and with less effort. The group expects to exceed their goals. The VP of Finance is greatly satisfied with how the team is working and now sees their individual potential being collectively channeled into higher performance and productivity.
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