Monday, March 24, 2014

Professional Employee Characteristics

           Employees need to possess characteristics that make them professional. First, an employee needs to be ambitious in order to get things done and progress in the company; ambition allows for more creativity and innovation within an organization (Sundheim, 2014). Second, an employee needs to be honest to mitigate disruption and distrust in the workplace; honesty shows that an employee takes pride in his or her work (Ingram).
            Ambition is a very important trait that professional employees must obtain. In order for employees to grow as individuals and professionals, they must have the drive to go above and beyond what is normal. Employees who have ambition tend to contribute more to the business, improving its current state. Openness among employees is also fostered by ambition; the sharing of new ideas allows employees to converse with one another (Sundheim, 2014).
            Honesty is crucial in maintaining professionalism. If an employee is not honest, he or she could ruin the reputation of an entire company. Dishonest employees can hinder the effectiveness of the workplace by creating drama between departments or employees (Ingram). Professional employees are not afraid to admit their faults or to acknowledge they need more guidance; their humility shows others that they are willing to better themselves rather than think they are already the best.
            Employees have to work hard at becoming professional; it does not happen overnight. Two characteristics that professional employees possess are ambition and honesty. Ambition gives people that extra motivation they need to advance in their business. Honesty enables employees to be more valuable in the workplace; co-workers will trust each other more and waste less time focusing on others’ lies.
REFERENCES
Ingram, D. (n.d.). The qualities of a good and professional employee. Houston Chronicle.
            Retrieved from http://www.chron.com/
Sundheim, K. (2013, April 2). Fifteen traits of the ideal employee. Forbes. Retrieved from
            http://www.forbes.com/



Wednesday, March 5, 2014

Tips for Team Effectiveness

Two tips can be used to help teams be more effective. First, ground rules should be established so all team members are on the same page; consistency among team members is crucial for a team to work together effectively (Freed, 2012). Second, team members should contribute like they are playing charades; everybody needs to keep contributing and speaking up to create new ideas (Harper).
            Ground rules should be established in order to create consistency. Every team member should be on the same page; otherwise, expectations may be skewed or responsibilities may be delegated inefficiently. Having ground rules will avoid any surprises that may occur during a project (Harper). Delegating tasks to team members can be a part of establishing ground rules. Tasks should be delegated to a single person, rather than a “we’ll get it done” approach (Freed, 2012). Giving the responsibility to one person holds him or her accountable.
            Everybody should contribute like he or she is playing charades because it allows ideas to flow. The more people talk, the more ideas that are in circulation. When people say something, a thought is usually evoked in somebody else’s mind. This illustrates the concept that ideas bounce off of other ideas. In order for this to be effective, everyone must speak up, speak often, and speak freely (Harper).
            Teams are only as effective as the principles they are founded upon. In order for team members to be productive, they need to establish ground rules and have open communication. Ground rules will allow every team member to have the same focus and method of delivery. Open communication allows collaboration among every team member. Team collaboration encourages thoughts and ideas to be shared. Teams can be effective if these tips are utilized and enforced.

REFERENCES

Freed, E. (2012, November 13). What makes good collaboration? 10 real-world tips. 
The Social Intranet Blog. Retrieved from
http://www.thoughtfarmer.com/blog/good-collaboration-10-tips/
Harper, S. (n.d.). Ten tips for successful collaboration. Retrieved from