Teamwork

Collaboration Within

April 12, 2017

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I'm Deb- CEO, worldwide executive coach, mentor, consultant and speaker. I'm here to help you take your leadership and impact to the next level!

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Collaboration Within

In our previous article, we talked about what happens when you have “Competition Within.” The effects of a disjointed team are obvious and corrosive.

Now let’s talk about what happens when you have “Collaboration Within.”  In this example, a certain company has two main missions: provide stellar service and empower the people who serve.

The result?

Employees who enjoy their work and feel respected and valued, and customers who gladly pay a premium price for the stellar service they receive. It is a win-win situation, and a highly profitable business model.

How do you create this kind of profitable model for your business?

1. Assess Your People

Ask your current customers targeted questions to determine their level of satisfaction. For example, “How would you rate your last experience with our company or service – and why?”

Ask your current employees targeted questions about their work and level of satisfaction. Ask them how the company can better equip them to be their best in their work.

The key in both of these is to listen and take action on what you learn.

2. Assess Your Processes

Do you have processes in place that allow you to empower your employees to make decisions within a defined scope of authority? Do you have training in place to help them become comfortable in the role of decision making? This is the beginning of leadership, and employees who lead in their particular area of expertise are much more engaged than those who simply “do as they are told.”

3. Assess Your Placement

Do you have employees positioned in their highest strengths zones? It is critical to know who on your team works best on the front lines and who works best behind the scenes, for example. Very often, disengagement on the job is simply a reflection of a misfit regarding position. Strengths-based placement gives your employees a more direct path to success and thereby increases engagement.

4. Assess Your Profiles

In working with companies, we conduct a process called “Strengths Mapping” where we map out corporate teams or small companies based on DISC profile assessments. This helps to identify areas of need.

For example, if a team is composed of all D- and I-wired extroverts, there will be great ideas and great vision – but the details will fall through the cracks. By the same token, a team that is composed of all S- and C-wired introverts may have issues with marketing and growth.

Strengths Mapping allows you to create a diverse team and then help them to collaborate effectively by understanding the strengths and values of each individual. This kind of dynamic creates a profitable business model that wins over the typical competition, where teams work in disparate silos.

Some may remember the space race of the 1960’s. It is a clear illustration of “Collaboration Within” and its effects on winning. John F. Kennedy defined and communicated a clear vision – to land a man on the moon within the decade. He used his gifts of inspiration and determination to chart the course…and then a highly collaborative team of diverse individuals worked together to make the seemingly impossible happen. They won over the competition, and the entire world has benefited from what they learned in doing so.


As the CEO of Strength Leader Development, Deb Ingino is a highly sought-after international executive mentor, coach, trainer and speaker. Deb is well versed in global business operations and helps business leaders and their teams to discover and leverage their strengths, so they can create highly collaborative teams that deliver great results. With a refreshingly direct style, Deb helps leaders and their teams to deliver profitable results. Connect with Deb to learn more about her mentorship and coaching programs to equip you with advanced strategies to elevate your results.


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