Business Insight

heres 00 0 AM End internal competition today for greater success tomorrow

By Mark Eaton

I n the NBA when anyone on the basketball team is playshying for himself rather than the team as a whole failure is eminent In business when anyone in the company has

an 1 mentality its only a matter of time until failure creeps into the organization

In any group endeavor success is not about discipline - its about teamwork Without teamwork people dont cooperate collaborate or innovate

Unfortunately many people are confused about what a team is and how to create one Realize that a group ofpeople working together is not a team NBA teams understand this They know what they have to do to be a team and they do it Now its time for businesses to do the same

Quik-Link 800-687-1557 ext 18117

Creating teamwork So whats the difference between a group of people and a

team Groups are committed to an ideal goal or person teams are committed to each other Where are the commitments in your company

The fact is that many employees have a sense of I have to look out for myself People think they have to constantly defend themselves and watch their space Because of this theyre more concerned about their own status or wellbeing than where the company is going what the companys goals are and how those goals are going to be met

As long as people are focused on the internal competition and are using all of their energy in that direction your company wont go far Sure the organization might make some shortshyterm gains but over the long-term the losses will outweigh any success

In basketball theres a saying that no one cares if you score thirty pOints a night on a lOSing team Think about how that saying holds true in business Ifyour company is going downhill fast who cares about any short-term profits

As tong as your employees are just looking out for themselves and trying to just beat their teammates youre going to lose the biggest game out there Youre not going to be a star at the top ofyour industry

Success only comes when your staff plays as a team When theyre focused on the internal competition - on what this person is doing or what that person said - you have a team

Creating a tean1 philosophy is a lot lile turning a battleship Slow and teady progress gets

you to your goal

thats divided Like an internal cancer divisiveness kills an organization and drains company profits The key is to end such internal competition and get everybody aligned with this is where were going Once that happens the individual accolades will follow

If people on your team just cant seem to get past the I mentality - if they cant stop asking Why should I help these guys What are they going to do for me- then its time to create a mind-set shift in your organization The follOWing suggestions will help

MTDJuly2

Business Insight

1 Create a team philosophy Management has to embrace a team philosophy that if everyone pulls together everyone will get what they want Your job is to make sure your employees and managers understand that tier value is directly related to the companys success They need to think about this - who wants to promote someone from a lOSing department If they want to advance then they need to show their commitment by making sure those around them advance

Additionally you have to reinforce this ideology on a daily basis by communicating the team philosophy regularly and by meeting with your staff indiVidually to explain how adopting the corporate goals and values and sticking together will help everyone Equally important is to make the communication real People want to help but they often lose the personal connection in the midst of too much bureaucracy and end up focusing on just hitting numbers Since this is a behavior and a mind-set shift itll take time to turn It s a lot like turning a battleship - slow and steady progress gets you to your goal Yes its a new direction but its one that can inspire teams to perform at levels greater than they knew possible It s a philosophy thats well worth the effort to put in place

2 Instill a sense ofcamaraderie and team spirit You cant have a true team ifeveryone always stays to themselves in their office and only interacts with each other during weekly meetings In order to consistently reinforce this sense of team you need to have everyone come together for some group time

You can do this in a variety of ways Take everyone out to dinner once a month Engage in a team building retreat Start

a company softball team - do anything to get everyone out and together as one unit Create the scenarios and language that reinforce the team concept You may hit some initial resistance to this idea but keep pushing

Is this afour letter word in your shop Intermittent problems are aheadache Theyre tough

to diagnose and make money on ldentifixmiddotDirect-Hit

gives you anew source for vehicle specific fixes on

these and other troubleshooting challenges Search

our online database of trended fi xes taken from more

than 35 million Hotline(ails Identifix has taken We

add nearly 1500 new problemsolutions each week

Quik-Link 800-687-1557 ext 18119 MTD July 2009

Business Insight

Team spirit does not just happen promises and the benefits ofcommitting to helping others you you must nurture it And dont can restore balance and move to the next level always talk shop during these social gatherings You will find Remove obstacles - create success that creativity will flow much While a little external competition with outside companies better in the days following is healthy and keeps your employees on their toes internal the events when everyone is competition among team members and departments is a feeling more connected sure path to challenges and setbacks So if you want your

3 Get team members to company to succeed now and in the future end the internal commit to others consciously competition once and for all Foster a sense of team commitshyand verbally Once your group ment that goes beyond a promise to hit the numbers When feels good about the members of the you get people committed to each other first and foremost you team the next step is to ask for a greater commitment Remember pave the way for future profits and create a company culture to have a true team people must be committed to each other that breeds success bull not just an ideal goal or person When everyone is connected there will be an opportunity to take the conversation to the next Aboutthe author Mark Eaton is a technician at heart He gradushylevel Plan this ahead oftime and get everyone to sit and discuss ated from the Arizona Automotive Institute following high school what the next level would look like and how to get there This is and worked at car dealerships and an independent tire dealership critical to gain momentum Discuss what the individual benefit before the first of two dramatic career changes would be if the team succeeds Keep in mind that not everyone The 7-foot 4-inch Eaton parlayed the persistence of a junior is focused on money or career advancement For many folks college basketball coach irlto a 12-year National Basketball gaining a greater sense ofjob satisfaction may be the missing link Association career with the Utah Jazz distinguishing himself Once there is consensus on the goals and benefits ofoperating as a defensive specialist Since his retirement from the NBA in as a team ask for their commitment in writing This will give 1994 he has become an entrepreneur you something to refer back to when there are breakdowns As CEO of7ft4com LLC (www7ft4coml Eaton is a motivational Most breakdowns occur because the commitments to each speaker and is working on a book about as he puts it the other have been lost along the way By reminding people oftheir extraordinary power of mentoring in sports and business

The Largest amp Most Exciting Tire Trade Show in the Asia Pacific Reg ion

Exhibits include All types oftires casings tuhes wheels andrims equipmet1tsfar lire repair shops plants and equipmet1ts for fire and wheelproduction retreading equipmet1ts andmaterials vuicBDizabon tire accessories etc

Further Infonnation Reliable International exhibition Services CoUd Tel +86-10-85898181 Email cltexporellableorgcn Websltewwwcitexpocomcn

Quik-Link 800-687-1557 ext 18121 MTD Jul 2009

Business Insight

1 Create a team philosophy Management has to embrace a team philosophy that if everyone pulls together everyone will get what they want Your job is to make sure your employees and managers understand that tier value is directly related to the companys success They need to think about this - who wants to promote someone from a lOSing department If they want to advance then they need to show their commitment by making sure those around them advance

Additionally you have to reinforce this ideology on a daily basis by communicating the team philosophy regularly and by meeting with your staff indiVidually to explain how adopting the corporate goals and values and sticking together will help everyone Equally important is to make the communication real People want to help but they often lose the personal connection in the midst of too much bureaucracy and end up focusing on just hitting numbers Since this is a behavior and a mind-set shift itll take time to turn It s a lot like turning a battleship - slow and steady progress gets you to your goal Yes its a new direction but its one that can inspire teams to perform at levels greater than they knew possible It s a philosophy thats well worth the effort to put in place

2 Instill a sense ofcamaraderie and team spirit You cant have a true team ifeveryone always stays to themselves in their office and only interacts with each other during weekly meetings In order to consistently reinforce this sense of team you need to have everyone come together for some group time

You can do this in a variety of ways Take everyone out to dinner once a month Engage in a team building retreat Start

a company softball team - do anything to get everyone out and together as one unit Create the scenarios and language that reinforce the team concept You may hit some initial resistance to this idea but keep pushing

Is this afour letter word in your shop Intermittent problems are aheadache Theyre tough

to diagnose and make money on ldentifixmiddotDirect-Hit

gives you anew source for vehicle specific fixes on

these and other troubleshooting challenges Search

our online database of trended fi xes taken from more

than 35 million Hotline(ails Identifix has taken We

add nearly 1500 new problemsolutions each week

Quik-Link 800-687-1557 ext 18119 MTD July 2009

Business Insight

Team spirit does not just happen promises and the benefits ofcommitting to helping others you you must nurture it And dont can restore balance and move to the next level always talk shop during these social gatherings You will find Remove obstacles - create success that creativity will flow much While a little external competition with outside companies better in the days following is healthy and keeps your employees on their toes internal the events when everyone is competition among team members and departments is a feeling more connected sure path to challenges and setbacks So if you want your

3 Get team members to company to succeed now and in the future end the internal commit to others consciously competition once and for all Foster a sense of team commitshyand verbally Once your group ment that goes beyond a promise to hit the numbers When feels good about the members of the you get people committed to each other first and foremost you team the next step is to ask for a greater commitment Remember pave the way for future profits and create a company culture to have a true team people must be committed to each other that breeds success bull not just an ideal goal or person When everyone is connected there will be an opportunity to take the conversation to the next Aboutthe author Mark Eaton is a technician at heart He gradushylevel Plan this ahead oftime and get everyone to sit and discuss ated from the Arizona Automotive Institute following high school what the next level would look like and how to get there This is and worked at car dealerships and an independent tire dealership critical to gain momentum Discuss what the individual benefit before the first of two dramatic career changes would be if the team succeeds Keep in mind that not everyone The 7-foot 4-inch Eaton parlayed the persistence of a junior is focused on money or career advancement For many folks college basketball coach irlto a 12-year National Basketball gaining a greater sense ofjob satisfaction may be the missing link Association career with the Utah Jazz distinguishing himself Once there is consensus on the goals and benefits ofoperating as a defensive specialist Since his retirement from the NBA in as a team ask for their commitment in writing This will give 1994 he has become an entrepreneur you something to refer back to when there are breakdowns As CEO of7ft4com LLC (www7ft4coml Eaton is a motivational Most breakdowns occur because the commitments to each speaker and is working on a book about as he puts it the other have been lost along the way By reminding people oftheir extraordinary power of mentoring in sports and business

The Largest amp Most Exciting Tire Trade Show in the Asia Pacific Reg ion

Exhibits include All types oftires casings tuhes wheels andrims equipmet1tsfar lire repair shops plants and equipmet1ts for fire and wheelproduction retreading equipmet1ts andmaterials vuicBDizabon tire accessories etc

Further Infonnation Reliable International exhibition Services CoUd Tel +86-10-85898181 Email cltexporellableorgcn Websltewwwcitexpocomcn

Quik-Link 800-687-1557 ext 18121 MTD Jul 2009

Business Insight

Team spirit does not just happen promises and the benefits ofcommitting to helping others you you must nurture it And dont can restore balance and move to the next level always talk shop during these social gatherings You will find Remove obstacles - create success that creativity will flow much While a little external competition with outside companies better in the days following is healthy and keeps your employees on their toes internal the events when everyone is competition among team members and departments is a feeling more connected sure path to challenges and setbacks So if you want your

3 Get team members to company to succeed now and in the future end the internal commit to others consciously competition once and for all Foster a sense of team commitshyand verbally Once your group ment that goes beyond a promise to hit the numbers When feels good about the members of the you get people committed to each other first and foremost you team the next step is to ask for a greater commitment Remember pave the way for future profits and create a company culture to have a true team people must be committed to each other that breeds success bull not just an ideal goal or person When everyone is connected there will be an opportunity to take the conversation to the next Aboutthe author Mark Eaton is a technician at heart He gradushylevel Plan this ahead oftime and get everyone to sit and discuss ated from the Arizona Automotive Institute following high school what the next level would look like and how to get there This is and worked at car dealerships and an independent tire dealership critical to gain momentum Discuss what the individual benefit before the first of two dramatic career changes would be if the team succeeds Keep in mind that not everyone The 7-foot 4-inch Eaton parlayed the persistence of a junior is focused on money or career advancement For many folks college basketball coach irlto a 12-year National Basketball gaining a greater sense ofjob satisfaction may be the missing link Association career with the Utah Jazz distinguishing himself Once there is consensus on the goals and benefits ofoperating as a defensive specialist Since his retirement from the NBA in as a team ask for their commitment in writing This will give 1994 he has become an entrepreneur you something to refer back to when there are breakdowns As CEO of7ft4com LLC (www7ft4coml Eaton is a motivational Most breakdowns occur because the commitments to each speaker and is working on a book about as he puts it the other have been lost along the way By reminding people oftheir extraordinary power of mentoring in sports and business

The Largest amp Most Exciting Tire Trade Show in the Asia Pacific Reg ion

Exhibits include All types oftires casings tuhes wheels andrims equipmet1tsfar lire repair shops plants and equipmet1ts for fire and wheelproduction retreading equipmet1ts andmaterials vuicBDizabon tire accessories etc

Further Infonnation Reliable International exhibition Services CoUd Tel +86-10-85898181 Email cltexporellableorgcn Websltewwwcitexpocomcn

Quik-Link 800-687-1557 ext 18121 MTD Jul 2009