subject: Setting Clear Expectations For Successful Team Building [print this page] The pursuit of business excellence and profitability has driven managers and organization members to continuously explore the many effective ways whereby they could be accomplished. For this purpose, practical measures of involving every department in a company evident via a team-centered, horizontal organization structures are often used.
But regardless of what meanspersistent building, overall quality, lean manufacturing, or self-functioning work teamyour company employs to promote team-based developments, the desired end results are meant to raise customer satisfaction. Nonetheless, some organizations find themselves unsatisfied with the results of their efforts. Should this happen to your organization, the Human Resources Guide personnel have to draw up a checklist to help readily troubleshoot the problem. One significant factor in effective team building that would require your serious consideration is Clear Expectation.
What is Clear Expectation?
Of the many identified factors contributing to dissatisfaction and unhappiness in the work place, the lack or absence of Clear Expectations is among the most prominent. Polls, surveys, and evaluation reports have shown that subordinates consider their bosss inability to provide clear directions or instructions as the top detriment to accomplishing a harmonious and productive work flow and environment.
An effective boss is expected to provide these at all times, especially during critical tasks. His or her failure to address communication problems hampering him from providing clear and detailed instructions not only gets in the way of his subordinates successfully accomplishing their tasks. But it also seeps into their sense of participation, leaving them feeling alienated and unproductive. Thus, they are discouraged from venturing beyond themselves. In time it can lead to their feeling detached from the team, which may eventually result to a decrease in their self-motivation. One members fall-out, apparent to other team members or otherwise, is enough to substantiate the teams failure to build itself.
Identifying the Structure of Clear Expectations
As a general guide, here are set pointers that would clarify if a boss has given Clear Expectations to his team members:
He/she communicates clearly the required expectations for the teams performance and expected outcomes.
He/ she has informed the team of their specific function as a group, while defining the importance of individual positions to the companys overall work structure.
He/she emphasizes the importance of time management, open work-related discussions, and giving due attention to tasks.
He/she stimulates and encourages interest in proper and on-time accomplishment of every task.
When the boss meets the parameters of Clear Expectations well, his team members understanding of their individual and team function is characterized by the following components:
A strategic planning process that clearly identifies overall objectives and directions
An effective communication method informing every employee of his/her positions significance and function in the overall company strategy
A definite process for evaluation, feedback, and accountability that informs employees of their performance
Total advocacy on the part of the organization for clear performance expectations communicated via the following: cultural expectations, executive planning and communication, managerial responsibility and accountability, rewards and recognition, and company stories revolving around great accomplishments that define the solidarity of the work place structure.
