“An effective team consists of efficient individuals.“

- Ebony R. Johnson

Is your team unorganized? Do you have members that are not dedicated to the organization’s mission?  Tired of wasting your time in unproductive meetings? Want to take your team to the next level?  Use Building Bridges for Youth, LLC’s 5 Success Tips for Working with Teams (The Five)!

1)  Be Proactive

Merriam- Webster Dictionary defines proactive as: acting in anticipation of future problems, needs, or change. When you have identified an issue, create the solution. If you believe that your organization should provide a certain service or program, propose your idea and organize it! Successful teams are a reflection of productive team members and innovative thinkers. Get the job done!

2) Communicate

Share! You have to tell your team members about new opportunities, share innovative ideas, and discuss current projects. You cannot expect your team to help you achieve your vision, when they do not know your vision. Be clear and concise.

3) Documentation

It is imperative that you take notes (minutes) in all of your meetings. Organizations usually meet to discuss new ideas, current projects, and/or issues. Most team members will not remember half of what was discussed, assigned, and/or changed in a 1-hour meeting!  Minutes will ensure that all members were properly updated, aware of your expectations and informed of their responsibilities; include members that were present or absent, important dates and times, tasks, changes, issues, and solutions.

** A Secretary is typically responsible for taking notes.

** Minutes must be distributed within 72 hours of the meeting!

If you have a member that never completes an assignment or is always late or disruptive, write them-up! When you document a person’s negligent behavior, the information creates a trail of evidence that proves your point in the end.

4) Accountability

When you have documentation, you can hold people accountable for their actions. Without it, it’s basically all he say/she say.

5) Customer Service

If your team members:

1)      Are too lazy to produce innovative ideas and/or products (Not Proactive);

2)      Do not communicate effectively with each other (Lacks Communication);

3)      Do not document changes, assignments, and/or group decisions (Lacks Documentation);

4)      Never take responsibility for their actions or lack thereof (Lacks Accountability),

I am willing to bet that your customer service is horrible! I can encourage you to smile at people and be polite (extremely important), but it is much more than that. When you are in a team that does not function properly, your audience can see it! Get organized! Enhance your public image and increase customer satisfaction by cleaning up the inside of your organization…can’t provide excellent customer service without it!

Building Bridges for Youth, LLC…Changing Lives and Creating Futures

Image Location: http://singleandworking.files.wordpress.com/2009/10/our20team20web20photo.jpg

Some of you fail to realize that “what you do today, will define you tomorrow.” Some of us go through life thinking that we can do anything to anyone and that things will still go our way. This is not true!  You should ALWAYS be mindful of the way that you treat people, regardless of their age, race, gender, sexuality, personal situation, or status in life.  Some of you may say, “I know, I know,” but your actions are not proving that you are knowledgeable of this information.

We all get a chance to live the good life and sit on clouds that are higher than those who surround us, but there is always a chance that we’ll fall. With this being said, be mindful of your attitude! Throughout my professional career, I have encountered young people with some of the most horrible attitudes. They do not realize that their attitude and behavior is the number one reason that they are being held back in life. From time to time, we must stand before those people and say,” You are your own enemy!”

There is one rule that I learned early in this game…no one cares that you are mad! Some people go to extremes to show that they are angry about something. Not realizing that the other person is going to extremes to make sure that they truly do not care. I have 4 examples for you:

1. You failed a test and stomped out of the classroom.

2. You are frustrated with the people around you, so you decide to not speak to others and to walk around with an evil look on your face.

3. Your angry, so you feel that it is your right to say rude and disrespectful things to others.

4. You don’t like your boss because he/she is simply enforcing company policy.

Some professionals have the ability to be just as nonchalant as you. Behind the scenes, in their networks, they may discount your skills and efforts because of your attitude. Eventually, your reputation may be damaged. I know that this sounds harsh, but it is true. Some people forget that professionals also have feelings, morals, and values. Most professionals have a few things over you…more contacts and a larger  network. They may have the ability to  serve as the doorway to your success! You may have someone to write a recommendation letter, but is it the person that you need? Keeping a general reference on  stand-by is OK, but what happens when a potential employer is requesting a letter from an advisor, faculty member, and/or a staff member?

You may be having a bad day or have had a bad experience, but the world does not need to know that. You may not like a person, but that’s irrelevant in business. Some people just don’t care.

What if this has been the story of your life? Start the transition today. Below, are a few tips for you!

1. Smile when you meet people. Always be prepared for a friendly impromptu conversation.

I met some of my best associates while I was “out and about.” While shopping, I met a very nice lady. We started talking about colors, designs, and  jewelry. We talked for maybe 10 minutes and ended the conversation with a handshake. Later that evening, I attended a meeting that she was facilitating. I didn’t know that she was going to be there! She introduced me to everyone that she knew! I met a lot of people and made a new friend because of a smile and friendly conversation.

2. Fix your face!

When you are angry, no one should know it. Smile when you want to slap somebody! Come up with creative ways to deal with your anger. Never allow anyone to control your emotions.

3. Treat everyone with kindness.

There is nothing wrong with smiling, saying. ” Excuse me,” shaking someone’s hand, or holding the door. Some people will look at you like your crazy and others will appreciate the gesture. Don’t let their negative reactions change your positive actions!

Good Luck!

Good Evening:

Today, I am going to discuss the importance of time. This lesson is not taught in any classroom, but it is very valuable information. You are probably assuming that I will discuss the importance of being 20 minutes early to an interview or arriving to class 10 minutes before it starts, but that is not my focus. Let’s talk about the “self-time line.”  As we learn and grow, we begin to set goals for ourselves.

Examples:

By the age of 18, I am going to the NBA.

By the age of 22, I will finish college.

By the age of 24, I will have my Masters degree.

By the age of 30, I will be  married with four kids.

By the age of 35, I will be a successful lawyer in a big house.

The reality is that your blessings are not on a time line. At least not one that YOU can control. Most of the time, we do not achieve things at the time that we originally planned. I am not saying that this is everybody’s story, but it is one that most of us share. Do not get caught up in the “self time line” because it may cause you to be discouraged and never achieve your goals. Ebony, why would you say that? I have seen it happen! Young people always start out with big dreams and short time lines, but life does not work that way. Sometimes, you are not mentally prepared for the place that you are trying to go, when you are trying to get there.  You may think that you are ready, but your GOD (or whomever you believe in) may feel that it is just not your time. There may be more lessons for you to learn and more changes for you to make before you go to the next step. Maybe you need to change your thought process or experience something, that will make you stronger in the end…you never know.

Young people, I am not saying that you should not set goals or an achievement date. I am saying don’t get discouraged IF it doesn’t go the way that you planned, by the time that you want it to. Time waits for nothing and everything is going to take its time.

Stay Positive. Stay Focused. Remain Dedicated to Your Mission.