Ten Expert Practices for Optimizing Team Performance

I spoke with an expert consultant on organizational behavior Gretchen Ramirez PhD to find out how leaders optimize team behavior She believes anyone can enhance their leadership ability simply by knowing how to improve modify or eliminate behavior in othersFirst understand that there are two opportunities to impact behavior antecedents and consequencesAntecedents Improve the quality of team performance by setting expectations before action is taken Give clear instructions even if it seems to make the task more complicated clarity about process ensures team members are aligned and the goal is achievedConsequences Feedback shapes changes or reinforces the actions of a team after the task is completed Whether positive neutral or negative consequences are an effective tool of leadershipamp160 Avoid amp8220noconsequenceamp8221 which leaves team members unclear if their actions are effective or notDr Ramirez shared 10 leadership strategies to help you sharpen your organizational effectiveness and become an agent of changeReinforcing through feedback is essential for permanent change Antecedents provoke behavior but do not maintain it Instructions are motivating but consequences determine if that behavior will become established Reinforcing after a task is completed successfully will go a long way to effect change we want to be permanentThe best style of positive reinforcement is not onesizefitsall Some people prefer receiving compliments publicly and others prefer a written note or a private conversation Optimally consequences should be customized to the personTo establish a behavior reinforce frequently to maintain a behavior reinforce intermittently and unexpectedly Once a behavior is established you do not need to reinforce constantly In fact your reinforcement will lose value if you overuse it Reinforce frequently at the start of a new task or situation and reinforce sporadically to maintain the highest level of performanceDonamp8217t namedrop to get a behavior done It diminishes your leadershipAvoiding the amp8220threatamp8221 of a bad situation is a terrible motivator If your team works feverishly at the end of each fiscal period to avoid disappointing the board negative reinforcement encourages the teamamp8217s behavior and lastminute rushing will become the norm Threats are ineffective donamp8217t encourage higher performance as a means to avoid an unwanted consequenceBe aware that negative consequences are varied and subtle Negative consequences in the workplace can be as simple as not introducing a visitor to a person that expects it not giving warranted credit or speaking before another has finished As in positive consequences consider how the person receiving your feedback could perceive itNeutral consequences can decrease and eventually eliminate the behavior Not reinforcing behavior has the same effect over time as a negative consequence A person that goes the extra mile will soon reduce performance if their effort is not noticed Withhold positive reinforcement and you risk unintentionally eliminating the good behaviorConsequences should be simple and immediately follow the behavior To change behavior donamp8217t wait Offer feedback soon after you see indications of the new behavior you want to instill a quick response is more effective in changing behavior than a positive consequence at the end of the month or the end of the year This explains why compensation is important it gets the person on the team but not longlasting after a while the raise received will lose the impact of motivating daily behaviorNegative feedback must stand alone If you are trying to establish or change a behavior never pair your feedback with amp8220that was good but next timeamp8230amp8221 If you need to address a less than positive aspect offer criticism separate from encouragementGet to know the people that work with you in any capacity Empathy for your coworkers creates a more human and productive working environment Learn what feedback is reinforcing and not reinforcing to each individual on your teamNow that you understand how to optimize the behavior of your team put it into practiceamp160 amp160And remember Donamp8217t be the only reinforcer on the team become a promoter of reinforcement among others The good energy will positively impact the workplace climate while making the team stronger and more successfulThe opinions and points of view expressed in this commentary are exclusively the views of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of MediaVillageMyersBizNet management or associated bloggers

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Ten Expert Practices for Optimizing Team Performance

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