Tips for Building and Managing a Successful Team
Posted by admin in Team Building on October 3, 2011
From the time we were little kids learning to share in kindergarten class, to today, where we are faced with team challenges in the office, the importance of team work has always been stressed. In many office environments, working with colleagues on a project is something that is a normal part of our jobs, and it is essential to be able to work together to capitalize on our strengths and produce the best products or services for the company.
In a corporate environment, the teamwork challenge lies in breaking down the boundaries between departments, or even cubicle walls, to interact and work with those who you may not work with on a daily basis. The first thing that should be done when a team assignment is given is to organize an initial meeting, if only as a “meet and greet”, so that everyone can have the opportunity to meet each team member in person and discuss the project with everyone in the room at the same time. More likely than not, it will be a rarity that everyone is available to meet up at the same time in person, and the team may have to resort to holding separate meetings or even communicating through email to keep everyone informed. It is so important, then, to organize this initial meeting at the beginning, because the opportunity may not come along again where the whole team is in the room at the same time. Read the rest of this entry »
What Is the Best Negotiation Process?
Posted by admin in Negotiation on October 3, 2011
Although nearly everything in life is negotiable, few people either understand the nuances of the art and science of negotiating, or adequately prepare themselves for negotiations. However, in one of life’s ironies, it appears that negotiating is often considered easy and many people believe that anyone can negotiate. There are many simple and basic examples from everyday life that clearly demonstrate the need to be a better negotiator, from the car buying and home buying processes, to wage negotiations, etc. While these circumstances certainly put some individuals at a competitive disadvantage, the results are generally personal, and thus not that impacting on larger groups or society. When organizations are in negotiating situations, how well they handle these circumstances often dictates their eventual success or failure.
In my more than thirty years as a professional negotiator, I have learned how essential negotiations are. Many inexperienced negotiators falsely believe that negotiations is a contest, where one party needs to best the other. In fact, the best possible scenario is invariably when the negotiations end up being win- win (meaning both sides are content with the result). In many cases, the victories are far more subtle, and while one side gets what it wants and feels it needs, the other side is also satisfied. Read the rest of this entry »