Why Effective Teaming Is The Smartest Way to Build Organizational Capability

Most companies today struggle to accomplish more with a smaller staff. While there are several ways to approach the challenge, organizational effectiveness expert Gayla Hodges advocates the use of effective teaming to accomplish critical tasks, build commitment to values and culture and save money.

Glendale, AZ (PRWEB) June 26, 2007 -- One of the most pervasive challenges for businesses in our day is the struggle to accomplish more with a smaller staff. Finding the best way to do this is a continuing challenge for many businesses. While there are several ways to approach this challenge, the approach that is cost effective and successful is to build the capabilities of the organization through the creation of effective teams, according to renowned business coach Gayla Hodges. Her company, Change Agents, Inc. has announced several new approaches to training effective teams, including Equine Assisted Training options.

"Too many businesses respond to the need for expanded capability by defining a job and hiring an individual who is qualified and competent to meet the immediate challenge. While this was common practice is the past, it may not be the most efficient or effective approach," says Hodges, President and Chief Consultant for Change Agents, Inc. A second popular response is to engage the services of independent contractors or to outsource the challenge. "The response to the challenge of expanding organizational capability I have found to be most effective," says Hodges, "is the creation of effective teams to accomplish certain tasks."

Hodges points out several advantages to this approach:

•There is no additional employee or contractor cost

•There is no loss of time or momentum to on-boarding a new person

•The corporate culture and values are shared by the members of the team because they are current employees

•Current employees have communication networks throughout the company

•Current employees are already committed to corporate goals

•Teams are flexible - they can address a single issue or several issues

•When done well, participation on an effective team actually increases employee capability; it can then be applied in other parts of the organization

The key to building organizational capability through teaming is creating an effective team. My definition of an effective team is one that leverages the strengths of each of its members in such a way as to create more than any of the individuals could do on their own. An effective team will bring to the table a number of points of view, a variety of experiences, skill sets and knowledge bases. An effective team will not rely upon the thinking or the experience of any single individual. Rather, bringing the team together will, by virtue of the uniqueness of each individual member, provide the strength of diversity and experiential depth. It will create the kind of enthusiastic synergy and a level of buy-in that offers the best chance of identifying or creating solutions that are creative and innovative. Further, by bringing together people from various parts of the company, the news of their work and their solutions will quickly be disseminated throughout the organization, energizing others as they anticipate creative solutions that benefit the company and all employees.

"If your company is faced with a need to expand the capabilities of the organization, I encourage you to take the bold step of creating a functional team gathered from across the company for their skills, insights, knowledge and experience, as well as their openness to negotiation and innovation. Once you take that bold step," says Hodges, "I believe you will recognize a level of accomplishment that might be surprising. I am almost certain your next challenge will be met with effective teaming."

About Change Agents, Inc.:

Change Agents, Inc. is a consulting and coaching company that uses their Natural Effectiveness™ Coaching and Teaming to help corporate team leaders achieve personal, team and corporate goals. Unlike other consultants who only develop strategy, Change Agents specializes in developing and executing implementation strategies, not only developing the strategies but actually coaching leaders through implementation and execution of the plan. For more information, visit www.changeagentsinc.com or call 623-362-3876.

###