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Team Tips
Team Tips are short email messages sent
quarterly by Michael R. Van Dyke, highlighting an aspect of effective
teamwork behavior. They go to individuals and businesses who recognize the
value of good teamwork and appreciate a reminder from time to time.
If you wish to receive Team Tips directly in the future, please
provide an email address to
info@SerengetiEnterprises.net with SUBSCRIBE as the subject heading.
This Serengeti Enterprises mailing list is NOT shared with any other
business or individual.
Here is an example of previous Team Tips message :
In the quest to improve the quality of any team’s output, we often hear that
we need to "work smarter, not harder." Author Daniel Goleman ("Working with
Emotional Intelligence," Bantam Books, 1998) provides food for thought on
WHAT exactly is "smarter." Well, of course, "smarter" means more
knowledgeable, right? So to work "smarter," we need to send the team for
more technical training, right? Perhaps not! Goleman suggests that improving
Emotional, not technical, Intelligence is the key to increasing performance.
Emotional Intelligence is the set of interpersonal skills that allows people
to work well together. These include many of the traits that Mom encouraged
in us to "play nicely" with our friends: trustworthiness, self-confidence,
initiative, adaptability, commitment, empathy, communication skills, and
cooperation. Perhaps we did learn everything we needed to know about
teamwork in kindergarten - we just forgot it when we went to work!
Emotional Intelligence skills are critical for success in business.
According to Goleman, a recent national survey of employers shows seven
skills rated ‘most important’ in entry-level workers. Six of the seven are
competencies in the emotional realm: communication skills, creative
response, personal motivation, interpersonal effectiveness, and leadership
potential. Goleman’s research at Harvard University shows a remarkable
consistency across jobs, organizations, and industries: superior Emotional
Intelligence is the single most significant indicator of outstanding
performance.
Not only does increased Emotional Intelligence pay off in outstanding
business performance by individuals and teams, training in emotional
competencies represents a good return on investment. Goleman notes that IQ
(intellectual intelligence) changes little after the teenage years, yet
Emotional Intelligence in adulthood can improve dramatically with training.
Focusing your training budget on interpersonal skills training pays big
dividends by way of increased work output, less tension in the workplace,
and more satisfied workers. Additionally, Emotional Intelligence represents
a personal value-added skill set for both managers and employees. These
skills are portable assets preparing people for advancement opportunities
and as hedge against job displacement.
For additional information on the advantages to your organizational team
"playing well with others" and free consultation on interpersonal training
options, call Michael R. Van Dyke at (703) 850-1951 or email
michael@SerengetiEnterprises.net
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