Building an Effective Team

Introduction

Understanding Team Concepts

Defining a team

Defining teamwork

Team spirit

A group is NOT always a team

Team size

Team building

Team value

Team benefits

Team variables

• Types of Teams
• Company team
• Management team
• Working Team
• Special purpose team
• Virtual Teams

Team building risks

Basic Components of a team

Effective team components

• Ability to communicate
• Effective leadership
• Mission
• Active team members
• Integrity/ethics
• Enthusiasm

Effective Communication

Communication behavior

• Using simple words
• Using positive body language
• Relaying a clear message
• Using an appropriate tone of voice
• Using unnecessary repetition
• Using appropriate humor
• Obtaining positive feedback
• Showing appreciation

Communication failures

• Failing to listen
• Lack of clarity
• Not asking questions
• Withholding information
• Failing to react

Effective Leadership

Qualities of a team leader

• Possess integrity
• Convey respect
• Listen carefully
• Communicate effectively
• Provide fair treatment
• Convey confidence and calm
• Demonstrate the ability to delegate, negotiate or facilitate
• Possess the talent to organize
• Be involved with the team
• Continually evaluate the team

Team leader communication tools

• Listen
• Provide a receptive atmosphere
• Provide training
• Hold office meetings
• Conduct one-on-one meetings
• Utilize presentations
• Send clear emails
• Give proactive feedback

Team leader responsibilities

Team leader formula for failure

Who will lead?

Selecting a team leader

Team Mission and Goals

What does a mission statement accomplish?

Who creates the mission statement and when?

How do you create a team mission statement

• Construct a first draft.
• Refine the draft
• Complete the mission statement
• Share the mission statement
• Use the mission statement
• Make the mission statement visible
• Revise the mission statement when necessary

Proactive Team Members

Characteristics of good team members

Characteristics of a good team

Undesirable characteristics to avoid

Conduct, Ethics, and Enthusiasm

Do not ASSUME

Conduct requirements

Code of Ethics

Enthusiasm

Building a Property Management Team

Do you want a team?

• The one-person office
• A multiple personnel office

Team building keys

• Provide a sense of purpose
• Create clear understanding of team members roles
• Give clear expectations
• Provide opportunities to contribute
• Give private criticism
• Display public praise
• Provide stability
• Provide opportunity for growth
• Add new and different talent
• Provide freedom and support
• Build trust
• Create a positive environment

Seven (7) Steps to Analyze Current Personnel & Services

Step 1 – Review the framework of a property management team

Step 2 – Identify your external teams

• Maintenance – i.e. general contractors, electricians, plumbers, carpet installers, house cleaners
• Business services – i.e. screening, inspection, web host, web marketing, vacancy services
• Professional services – i.e. insurance agents, attorneys, financial institutions
• Personal support – i.e. family, friends

Step 3 – Review your external teams

Step 4 – Create your ideal team structure

Step 5 -Evaluate existing personnel

• Identify existing personnel
• Conduct company events to observe personnel
• Have individual personnel do a self-assessment
• Conduct individual interviews with personnel
• Assess potential leadership

Step 6 – Combine your team structure with personnel evaluations

Step 7 – Evaluate your results

Completing or Updating Your Team

Eliminate/fire non-team personnel

• This isn’t about you
• Document everything
• Time their exit
• Keep the office secure
• Let them go graciously

Hire new team members

• Set up your expectations in advance
• Use good documentation and screening
• Have a good interview process
• Consider an intern program

Hiring tips for a virtual team member

• Have face-to-face contact
• Ask Behavioral Questions
• Test or prove their skills

Training and Motivating Your Property Management Team

Training team members

• General team communication guidelines
• Remember the word assume
• Train using company documents
• Train personnel on laws/legislation
• Train all personnel on organized office systems
• Train team members individually
• Train during group meetings

Office Meetings

• Meeting benefits
• Meeting tips
• Team leader meeting responsibilities
• Why meetings fail

Implement a Team Safety Plan

Recognize areas of potential violence

Analyze all current safety procedures

Team building exercises

Pros for team building exercises

Have a purpose/goal

• Make a written plan
• Discuss the team building exercise in advance with the team
• Conduct the exercise
• Evaluate the exercise

Effective team exercises

Rewarding and Motivating the Team

Financial rewards

Company awards

Incentives and appreciation

Team Retreats

Benefits of a team retreat

Tips for planning a retreat

• Do advance planning.
• Make the retreat comfortable.
• Make the retreat relevant.
• Keep the retreat on track and toward the retreat goals.
• Follow up after the retreat.

Trouble Shooting the Property Management Team

Review the reasons for team failure

Reevaluate the team

Take action

• Create a recovery plan
• Monitor the progress of the team
• Adjust the plan as needed

Continually reevaluate

Conclusion

Appendix 

Team Forms

1 – Communication Worksheet

2 – Team Leader Review

3 – Six Word Review

4 – Team Mission Worksheet

5 – External Team Graph

6 – Ideal Team Structure Graph

7 – Current Personnel Record

8 – Self-assessment Worksheet

9 – Team Member Evaluation

10 – Team Review

11 – Termination Checklist

12 – New Hire Checklist

13 – Virtual Hire Checklist

14 – Meeting Planner

15 – Meeting Minutes/Evaluation Worksheet

16 – Mind Map

17 – Team Building Exercise Planner

18 – Safety Checklist

19 – Team Retreat Planner

20- Team Retreat Minutes /Evaluation Worksheet

21 – Team Troubleshooting Worksheet

22 – Yearly Team Review

Exerpts

Team building

Team building is the use of different activities aimed at enhancing social relations and clarifying team members’ roles. These activities frequently involve tasks that individuals must solve collaboratively.

Team building was originally a group process aimed at improving interpersonal relations and social interactions. Over time, this practice developed in businesses to encompass how to achieve results, meet goals, and accomplish tasks.

Team building requires these components:

• Goal setting
• Building effective working relationships
• Role clarification

Team value

People or companies want something if it has value or provides a benefit. Property management is a multifaceted business that involves many people, difficult/challenging situations, and the responsibility of managing real property. It is important to determine if it is worthwhile to spend time on creating a team or improving and existing team or teams.

Team benefits

So why do you need a team and why should you spend time and money building one? Below are many benefits for building a team.

• A team can be more efficient.
• A team takes advantage of multiple skill sets.
• A team means that productivity does not depend on one person.
• A team can work faster.

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Qualities of a team leader

A good leader realizes that no one person, including the team leader, is perfect.

For a fully functioning team, someone has to be in charge and possess certain qualities that will inspire and drive a team to success. Most books and articles agree on what constitutes good qualities in a team leader. When deciding who the team leader will be, the following qualities are necessary.

• Possess integrity
  An effective team leader is open and honest with his team members. Leaders who possess integrity gain trust by treating team members the way he or she wishes to be treated. This inspires team members to follow and work to the best of their ability.
• Convey respect
  A quality team leader is respectful of his team members. A respectful leader empowers team members by encouraging them to offer ideas about decisions that affect them and letting them know that he or she respects their input and opinions. Good team leaders focus…

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Who will lead?

Often the company owner assumes the role of leadership. However, just owning the business does not necessarily make for a good team leader. It is important that whoever owns or runs the business is able to discern who should be the “active” team leader or leaders if they cannot effectively lead the….