Building Teams

The Strengths to Confront Tough Times

Mon, 27 Apr 2009 10:00:00 GMT

Almost daily, companies are cutting workers, and morale and productivity are suffering as a result. In this environment, a strengths-based approach is vital because it creates hope, opens the doors to untapped potential, and brings out the best in people and in companies.

What Strong Teams Have in Common

Thu, 26 Mar 2009 10:00:00 GMT

Gallup has been studying leadership teams for nearly four decades, and that research has uncovered five telltale signs of strong, high-performing groups of employees, report Tom Rath and Barry Conchie, authors of Strengths Based Leadership.

What Makes a Great Leadership Team?

Tue, 03 Feb 2009 10:00:00 GMT

One of the core principles of strengths management is that people don’t need to be well-rounded to succeed. It helps, however, if teams are well-rounded, say the authors of Strengths Based Leadership.

Toyota Tackles an Audacious Goal

Thu, 14 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

George Borst, president and CEO of Toyota Financial Services, had a daring plan for leading TFS through an expansion of its customer base and product line. But that required transformation in every aspect of his organization -- new people, infrastructure, knowledge, and skills. Some of the changes offered fresh opportunities, but others presented big problems. What's more, the expansion required Borst to discover new methods of leadership. Here's how he successfully transformed his organization -- and, in the process, himself.

Engineering a Friendly Workplace at DaimlerChrysler

Thu, 12 Oct 2006 00:00:00 GMT

This manager in India was faced with a poor-performing team and tremendous pressure to turn it around. To tackle this pressing problem, he took a surprising and totally unconventional approach: He fostered workplace friendships.

All Together Now

Fri, 15 Mar 2002 00:00:00 GMT

Team-building was a high priority when Toyota Motor Sales USA opened its parts center in California in October 1996. Toyota's concerted effort to create great teams -- and the productivity that resulted -- illuminates what makes teams truly effective.

The Road to Recovery

Sat, 15 Dec 2001 00:00:00 GMT

Two years ago, St. Lucie Medical Center was busy and profitable -- yet the hospital was ill. Its patient satisfaction scores were dismal, and the hospital's workforce was heading for the exits. By September 2001, employee retention had improved significantly and engagement levels were at an all-time high. Here's how St. Lucie did it, and how other companies can follow suit.

The Manager's Duty

Mon, 05 Nov 2001 00:00:00 GMT

During World War II, U.S. citizens made great sacrifices to divert production to the war effort. Now, another galvanizing event confronts the United States. In this very different war, as armed forces fight, police investigate, and security is tightened, how can managers contribute to the battle against terrorism?

Building a Team With Talent

Mon, 17 Sep 2001 00:00:00 GMT

In sports it's often called chemistry: that blend of talent that makes a team able to accomplish the impossible. It's a balance that all managers want, whether they're coaching a baseball team, or leading a business initiative. Here are some strengths-based strategies for putting together a team that's more than the sum of its parts.