How to build a team. - Part 1 -

In my recent adventures, many people have asked me how I would build a team. Due to the current marketplace trend in moving fast in trying to create a Data Center practice this has become more and more common.

Some of the questions that I would ask if I was going to build a team are below:

So how would you properly build a team that was geared to thrive instead of just survive?

How do you plan to keep talent?

How can IT leaders avoid boring talent?

To that end the below points can assist anyone trying to build any team. Especially the human aspects of making that team be cohesive, well respected, intelligent and bonded together like concrete.

Goals and Mind-share -

For this team Goals and Mind-share must be aligned. Team members must understand the import of the team direction and goals. Team members might not always agree with the route taken to achieve the goals but, when the team understands the goals and direction a team member can usually forgive a perceived error in the chosen route.

Allowing team members to gain mind-share is important. As a leader of that team you must be ready to listen and hear them at the same time. More times than not your team will surprise you with the levelheadedness and intelligence they can bring to bear on a specific matter. Make sure that everyone knows who everyone else is, in a team like this there isn't really a spot for EGO. Make that known and deflate the need for EGO and some amazing things will happen. As a team builder/IT leader you need to keep that going.

One key need in being able to build a team that you can do this with is finding the "SPARK", or the X-factor, or passion. Whatever you call it that is the key to keep this team burning hot with talent.

Group Mentality -

Make sure that the team and you as a leader foster the attitude that the group is more important than the one. Once that is complete make sure that you and the team show the following chain: Client is more important than the group, Group is more important than one person, and as a team member I can help make that impact on the group and client positive. I as a team member can indeed contribute.

--That is it for now more tomorrow--

The SPARKs, types and abilities.

It's been a long time since I have talked about "SPARK"s and their impact on IT and the lack of HR professionals to realize what they might have, all BEFORE they interview with the hiring manager. It's been almost a year in fact. Please feel free to read my multipart posting frenzy on this topic HERE. In this next series of articles I wanted to address the different types of "SPARK"s and how they will impact any environment that they are dropped into.

The different "SPARK"s that I can think of are listed below:

SPARK

IGNITION SPECIALIST

DEMOLITION SPECIALIST

CONFLAGRATION EXPERT

M.O.F. - MASTER OF FIRE

There may be more in the coming days or weeks as I add content specific to these categories. But this is a good starting point.

Talk to you all soon.

Piece :P