Part 2 : 9 strategies on the ice

Part 2 of Sean's feature on the world's foremost explorers website ExplorersWeb where he shares his insights into teamwork and success.

Reaching the South Pole or North Pole is not about egos but takes a team effort, says Sean Chapple. He shares nine strategies with ExplorersWeb for when the team is skiing, sledge-hauling, kiting, making their way across the ice to the Pole; strategies from milestones, leadership, complacency, setbacks, decision making, to off days and fun days. MilestonesFor anyone the prospect of skiing over 700 miles in sub zero temperatures will be quite daunting. To avoid being overwhelmed by the immense challenge...

Read the complete article by Correne Coetzer at:
ExplorersWeb

8 Tips on How to Lead a High Performance Team

What does it take to lead a high performance team? Here are my top 8 tips.

Understand
The outcome and the team

Decide
You are the executive authority

Communicate
Assimilating feedback; disseminating information

Empower
Allow the led to do what they canand give them scope for excellence

Inspire
Take responsibility, it will come from no one else

Achieve
The underlying purpose

Sustain
Development of team/individuals

Act
Your teams will want you to take action

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Decision-Making

It is important that teams agree how decisions will be reached and capture this within the team charter.

For a high performance team this will generally be a collaborative approach to the decision-making process. If everyone is involved in the discussion to reach a decision, when that decision is ultimately reached the commitment by all will be far greater.

The formal leader should keep the discussion focused on the issue and frequently summarise points of view and then articulate the final decision, seeking everyone’s agreement to pursue that course of action. Once agreed all team members should fully embrace and commit to its delivery.

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Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs

Abraham Maslow developed the Hierarchy of Needs model in the 1950's and the theory retains its validity even today for understanding human motivation, management training and personal development. Maslow's ideas surrounding the theory concern the responsibility of employers to provide a workplace environment that encourages and enables employees to fulfil their own unique potential, or self-actualisation.

This is based on five needs:

1. Biological and Physiological - air, food, drink, shelter, warmth, sex, sleep.

2. Safety - protection from elements, security, order, law, limits, stability.

3. Belongingness and Love - work group, family, affection, relationships.

4. Esteem - self-esteem, achievement, mastery, independence, status, dominance, prestige, managerial responsibility.

5. Self-Actualisation - realising personal potential, self-fulfillment, seeking personal growth and peak experiences.

Qualities of a Leader

Many organisations articulate a list of qualities that they expect from their leaders. For example; The Royal Marines list Judgement, Bearing, Wisdom, Integrity and Courage. But for a leader to create and lead a peak performance team he should be able to think as both a leader and a team player. He should be an effective linker able to listen to the views of all team members, recognise individual strengths and know how to effectively utilise them for benefit of the team. Qualities and traits of leadership are external manifestations. True leadership is something that comes from within. It is a matter of behaviour and perception. It is a result of real experiences.