Team Building with Kim Fabian

As a business owner, it is important to have a solid team that supports you. Knowing what it takes to develop a solid team is important. If you don’t know what it takes that you can definitely pick-up a few tips from Kim Fabian.

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Kim Fabian is a team building facilitator who enjoys helping business owners develop a solid team. Continue reading as she shares key information that can help you cultivate an environment where you team can thrive and stay connected. You can connect with Kim at the following:

• E-mail: info@experiencepeakperformance.com
• Web: http://www.experiencepeakperformance.com
• Twitter: http://Twitter.com/TeamBuildingMD
• Facebook Group: Maryland Team Building
• Facebook & LinkedIn: Kim Fabian

Question 1: Please introduce yourself and the key areas of your expertise? How long have you been involved in this area?

Thanks for having me as a guest. My experience as a corporate communications consultant and team-building facilitator spans 20 years. I specialize in taking corporate teams outside the office to participate in a variety of activities that promote peak performance in the workplace.

Question 2: What are some of the mistakes that most teams make that sabotage their success?

I’d say the biggest mistake teams make is working in a vacuum and not collaborating with other teams. Sometimes people have a hard time seeing how they fit in to the big picture, or they are fighting “turf wars” instead of working together to reach common goals.

Question 3: What do staff members say they wish they could tell their leaders, but feel like they can’t?

There are two things I hear a lot. One is that they need their leaders to help bridge the gap between strategy and implementation–to help employees boil down how big-picture strategies will actually happen and what the employee’s role will be. Another complaint I hear is that leaders need to help their teams prioritize more effectively–otherwise, people feel like they’re just rushing to get everything done in a mediocre way, instead of doing fewer things really well.

Question 4: How can companies choose a team-building program that will best meet their group’s needs?

The first thing a manager or executive needs to decide is what gaps they need to fill in their team, then select a program that helps teach those skills. For example, my golfing team-building program focuses on peak performance under pressure, so it’s great for professionals who need to deal effectively with stressful situations. My scavenger hunt program, on the other hand, deals with interpersonal communication and competition among teams. So the goal should come first, then the program selected from there.

Question 5: How do the principles of golf or yoga or cooking relate back to performance in the workplace?

It’s amazing how these types of activities bring out the same issues that people have at work. The golf program, as I mentioned, can help people deal effectively with pressure-cooker situations. In cooking, you may be coping with issues of limited resources, following directions and creativity. The principles of yoga can help you center yourself in your values and, in turn, help you make better decisions, focus on your priorities and manage workplace stress.

Question 6: In today’s economy, what do leaders need to know to best motivate their team?

It’s imperative that leaders inspire trust among their teams and help staff members understand the overall mission of the organization and how they fit into it. Then it’s necessary to provide opportunities for growth and development–and to always foster a corporate culture that is in integrity with the company’s mission and the employer’s day to day expectations of employees.