FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

"In today's turbulent times, it's more important than ever to get people aligned and working together," states leadership expert, Dr. Liz Bywater. In the June 2009 issue of the Bywater Journal, she offers practical strategies for leading teams to outstanding collective performance. Here is the full article:

In today's turbulent times, it's more important than ever to get people aligned and working together. Individual workers are under ever-increasing pressure - and the demand for results is tremendous. If ever there were a time for teamwork, the time is now.

The best leaders help their people to work effectively, in concert, to achieve what no individual can accomplish on his own. The following strategies will help you guide your team to unparalleled collective performance:

Provide structure. Assign roles, tasks, and projects so that each member makes a meaningful and important contribution to reaching the team's goals and objectives. Delegate appropriately, always playing to the strengths of individual team members.

Provide context. Help your team understand the importance of their work and the ways in which their contributions impact the company as a whole. The truth is, it's not unusual for individual teams and departments to feel isolated from one another and from the larger organization. Help them see where they fit into the Big Picture. They just may surprise you with an increase in motivation, creativity, and dedication to meeting the company's goals.

Provide good management. This one calls for some flexibility, as each team has specific needs and preferences around being managed. You'll find that some teams prefer to be told the desired outcome and given plenty of latitude in achieving it. Others will want more detail and guidance. Similarly, each member of your team should be managed according to his or her individual needs.

Provide motivation. No matter how dedicated your team may be to you or your organization, they still need ongoing motivation to keep doing great work. Think about creative ways to reward your people for outstanding performance. When budget constraints limit financial bonuses, why not provide a nice lunch with the boss, a Starbucks gift card, or a simple note of thanks for a job well done? These modest expressions of appreciation can serve as powerful motivators. They also help people feel good about their jobs, their boss, and their company -important stuff for enhancing morale, engagement, retention, and productivity.

Provide communication. Talk to your team about what's happening within the company and within your department. Offer genuine reassurance where you can. Keep them apprised of opportunities to be leveraged as well as challenges to be met. And remember the most important aspect of communicating with your team: listening to what they have to say. Ask for their input, their feedback and their ideas. Allow them to share their frustrations and their concerns - without fear of reprisal. Let them know that you have an open door and invite them to use it.

Leading a team can be both the most demanding and the most rewarding work you'll ever do. Use the techniques listed above and lead your team to remarkable achievements. It's good for you, good for them, and good for the company.

Announcing! Private Coaching Programs, Liz's Blog, Twitter

Coaching: We are delighted to announce the launch of Liz's new array of private coaching options. She's reworked, revamped, and improved her previous coaching programs to meet a much broader array of individual needs, concerns, goals, and, of course, budgets. For more information, read our press release or visit our Private Coaching page, where you can get all the details. Any questions? Call us! We're here to help.

Blog: Check out Liz's new blog: Career Success with Liz Bywater: Insights for Outstanding Performance and Maximum Success. It's all about helping you do your best work, feel your best at work, and discover the career of your dreams. Follow Liz's posts, leave a comment or two, pass it along!

Twitter: You can now follow Liz on Twitter.  Liz's tweets are designed to help you dramatically improve performance and kick your career into high gear!

Speaking Engagements:

Upcoming Events:

August 6, 2009. Practical Goal Setting: From Intent to Achievement. Technology Professionals Networking Group (TPNG). Plymouth Meeting, PA. ?

?

August 20, 2009. Practical Goal Setting: From Intent to Achievement. Career Networking Group. Basking Ridge, NJ. Open to the public. Starts at 7:00 pm. For more information, please call 800.845.4546 ext. 103 or send an email to liz@bywaterconsultinggroup.com.

Recent Appearances:

April 30, 2009. Communication Strategies for Real World Success: What Every Student Needs to Know. Burlington County College.

May 6, 2009. Where Are the Women Entrepreneurs?? A Forum on What's Holding Us Back. Temple University's Fox School of Business.

About Liz Bywater, PhD

Dr. Liz Bywater is an internationally acclaimed leadership expert. She consults, writes, and speaks on a variety of leadership and work-related topics. Some of her most popular presentations include: Leadership Essentials for Troubled Times, Communicating for Success, Stress Management at Work and at Home, Practical Goal-Setting, and Conflict Resolution in the Workplace.

Dr. Bywater helps her clients achieve dramatic improvements in individual, team, and organizational performance. Her clients range from independent business owners to senior executives within the Fortune 50. She sits on the advisory board for Par Excellence Magazine and is a member of the American Psychological Association,the Society for the Advancement of Consulting, and the Cornell Entrepreneur Network. Dr. Bywater is quoted frequently in the media and has been interviewed by such publications as the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, Crain's, Yahoo! HotJobs and USA Today.

 

Check out Liz's blog, Career Success with Liz Bywater: Insights for Outstanding Performance and Maximum Success.

To interview Dr. Bywater for print, Web, radio or TV, call 800.846.4546 ext. 103.

To inquire about speaking, consulting, or private coaching services, call 800.846.4546 ext. 103.

To subscribe to Bywater Consulting Group's complimentary e-newsletter, filled with practical tips for improving individual, team, and organizational performance, send an email to info@BywaterConsultingGroup.com. Subject line: Subscribe.

###