Sweating the Details to Find the Edge Keith Tozer Teamwork Concepts

Sweating the Details to Find the Edge

Keith Tozer

Teamwork Concepts

Success Matrix of a Team(60/30/10)

60% (A)– Self-Motivated

– Hard Working

– Multi-Functional

– Learners

30% (B)– Motivated (needs

something)

– Works hard for periods of time

– Functional

– Learns but needs information 6 or 7 times

10% (C)– Non-motivated

– Believe they work hard

– Non-Functional

– Non-Learner

Lessons From Geese

When flocks of geese fly in a “V” formation, it adds 71% greater flying range and efficiency. – Employees and team members share a

common direction (goal) and can reach their destination quicker and easier.

Lessons From Geese

When the lead goose gets tired, it falls back into formation and lets another take the lead. – Great managers and coaches must let

others lead. (share leadership) – This makes employees and team members

feel a bigger part of the process and solution.

Lessons From Geese If one goose falls out of formation, two

geese will follow and remain behind until the goose that fell out of formation recovers and is ready to fly back to their flock or another. – Great companies and teams help each other

when in need and do not leave anyone behind.

– Team members need to stand behind each other.

Lessons From Geese

Geese in formation honk (motivate) from behind. – Everyone must continue to encourage

team members to be motivated in their direction (goal) they want to go.

– Team members feed off each other and don’t eat each other.

Ten Tools for Success

1. Build Self-Esteem– Within yourself– Within team members– Sandwich method of motivating:

Communicate something positive about another team member, communicate something to improve on together, and finally communicate how important they are to the team.


1. Build Self-Esteem (continued)– Team members must know how important

they are to the team’s overall success.• They also must know or be reminded where

(goal) they are going.

– When a team is winning, their self-esteem is high so they can be pushed.

• When they are not winning, back off, re-evaluate, and build self-esteem.

– Example: Cleveland


2. Set Demanding Goals– As individuals, team members must know

their role within the organization. – They must have individual goals within the

overall goal of the organization. – Team members must also understand their

responsibilities and recognize rewards and consequences.

– Focus must be on the execution of their goals and not the outcome.

Ten Tools for Success2. Set Demanding Goals (continued)

– Teams must gauge their success by performance ladders.

– The teams’ goals must be established by all team members in order for them to be part of the process.

– It is also extremely important that all team members can view their progress utilizing performance ladders.

– Example: Wave performance ladder

Ten Tools for Success2. Set Demanding Goals (continued)

– “Sharpen the Saw” – Team members must continue to strive to

improve on their execution of their responsibilities.

– They must search out new information, new tactics and continue to individually improve within the team itself.


3. Always be Polite– Your mood can control the moods of others

around you.– If a team member is not happy with a

decision the team makes, they must stay positive for future results.

– Changing your state of mind to a positive state also changes the state of mind of others on the team.

– Example: “Precious Present”


4. Establish Good / Great Habits– “Sweat the Details” Preparation and

organization is vital to the team’s overall success.

– Evaluate what direction (goal) the team is headed.

– Prepare your game plan in a way that shows how the team is going to reach their destination.


4. Establish Good / Great Habits (cont.)– Practice what is needed in order to achieve

your destination.– Do not focus on winning, losing, or the

bottom line. • Teams must stay focus on the execution of

each team member’s responsibilities.

– Example: “Inside the Magic Kingdom”

Ten Tools for Success5. Master the Art of Communication

– Team members should strive to understand each other before being understood.

– Veterans who have valuable experience are invaluable to the success of the team and other team members.

• Leaders need to listen to these individuals and empower them.

• New team members should search veterans out and embrace them.


5. Master the Art of Communication (cont.)

– Conversations between team members should be win/win situations not win/lose.

• Team goals come first, not individual needs.

– Example: 2000 MISL Championship Series Game 2 in Cleveland


6. Motivation– Pat on the back is the number one priority

among successful teams and is much more effective then upward mobility, money, or any other material gifts.

– Reward and Recognition are great motivating tools among team management and team members.

– Compensation is a right, recognition is a gift.


7. Thrive on Pressure– Preparation plus hard work plus execution

eliminates stress and pressure.– Pressure keeps team members sharp and

focused. – Team members who are not prepared

individually become stressed and in turn put pressure on the team.

– Good stress versus bad stress


8. Be Persistent– Success is a long-term commitment.– PHD – Poor, Hungry, and Driven– Team members must be able to change

their approach


8. Be Persistent (continued)– Team members must strive daily to

become better in some aspect of their responsibilities.

• When a team member improves individually, the team improves as a whole.

– Example: Nogueira and King


9. Learn from Activity– Successful teams learn from failures– First, management and team members

must evaluate not only the successes of the team, but also more importantly the failures.

– Teams must then plan and prepare– Organize information within the plan


9. Learn from Activity (continued)– Practice the plan and reinforce team

member’s responsibilities– Self motivate first, and then motivate each

other– Focus on execution of the plan


10. Survive Success– Team members must continue to strive to

improve after each success.– Teams or team members that enter the

“comfort zone” begin to lose their edge, intensity and their advantage.

– Art Modell, owner of the Baltimore Ravens after winning the Super Bowl in the NFL: “Lose say little, Win say even less”

Loyalty

Loyalty to yourself Loyalty to fellow team members Loyalty to team management Loyalty to the franchise / organization Loyalty to your profession

Pride

– Successful teams and players have a reputation of sweating the details, preparing, and executing wining game plans.

• Both have pride in taking the extra steps to succeed.

– Successful teams and players leave a legacy of what it takes to become successful, and what it takes to remain successful.

Pride

– Transfer of tendencies– Example: Cincinnati Bengals compared to

the New England Patriots

Documents

Sweating the Details to Find the Edge Keith Tozer Teamwork Concepts