How+to+Build+Better+Teams

In //The Ten Faces of Innovation//, Thomas Kelley of design firm IDEO introduces the 10 roles that people can play in an organization to help foster innovation and new ideas. In between his descriptions of personas like the Collaborator and the Hurdler, he drops lots of other useful advice, from how to supercharge a brainstorming session to how to build teams that work. //BusinessWeek// lists the main points for building great teams.


 * 1.** Coach more, direct less. Good executives and managers inspire their staffs to develop their confidence and skills so they can seize critical "big game" opportunities.


 * 2.** Celebrate passing. Break teams into smaller groups of three to six to increase the number of triangles where team members can pass ideas and responsibilities.


 * 3.** Everybody touches the ball. Find one or more responsibilities for every player.


 * 4.** Teach overlapping skills. Create opportunities for team members to assume nontraditional roles and push forward initiatives. Find out team members' unique passions and interests and put them to work.


 * 5.** Less dribbling, more goals. Encourage the sharing of ideas and initiatives. Solo dribbling can give a project the critical first push, but then you need teamwork to bring a project home.

Source: BusinessWeek