11/09/2013

8 Essentials of Building a Strong Team

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8 Essentials of Building a Strong Team

Ron Kirscht, President of Donnelly Custom Manufacturing Co.
Tue, 2013-09-03 15:15

Its no secret that high-performing companies have high-performing teams. But how do you build such a
team in your organization?
Its no secret that high-performing companies have high-performing teams. But how do you build such a
team in your organization?
At Donnelly Custom Manufacturing, where we specialize in the exacting niche of short-run molding, our
most crucial asset is an engaged workforce. Based on decades of cultivating the team we need to succeed,
here are some insights on how to do the same for your organization.

1. Start with the core ideas.

Clearly defining and communicating your companys vision, mission and values are essential. While this is
typically recommended for employee alignment and buy-in, its ability to empower employees isnt as
widely recognized.
For example, Donnellys mission is to deliver good products on time. Therefore, if ever there is a
question of what to do in a given situation, employees at any level can make the right decision based on
answering the question, does this solution help deliver good products, on time?

2. Develop leadership skills.

Understand that leadership is a skill that can be learned and improved upon. This applies to all levels and
functions of your organization.
Seek to offer practical sessions teaching leadership giving people tools they can immediately use on the
job.

3. Train for continuous improvement.

Of the many improvement techniques out there, we believe the lean technique, Training Within Industry,
to be among the most effective.
TWI provides supervisors with critical methodologies. The approach involves teacher-student
relationships enabling rapid and consistent training of teams to recommend process improvements.

4. Address the human element of quality.

Even on the strongest teams, people make mistakes. Thats why its crucial to have a process for
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11/09/2013

8 Essentials of Building a Strong Team

identifying, analyzing and reducing human errors.

At Donnelly, weve developed a lean-based methodology for mistake-proofing. This approach focuses not
on design or process but on people in particular, the mindset needed to continuously look for and
prevent the errors that lead to defects. Its key to recognize and respect how people think and give people
the tools to transcend these inherent limits.

5. Tackle complex issues collaboratively.

Some challenges go deeper or broader than the specific tasks typically addressed in mistake proofing.
Cross-functional teams can help break down systemic operational issues and take action to implement
changes (at Donnelly, this happens in our War Room). One of the biggest advantages of this team-based
approach is accountability. Its not executives demanding improvements. Its the team pursuing and
enabling improvements from each other.

6. Empower employees' ideas.

Too often, the barriers to implement great ideas are too big.
You have to work to make sure employees are encouraged and taught not only how to come up with ideas
but also how to bring them to life refining them, selling them to leadership, getting them implemented.
Then, when employees see a real opportunity, we can jump at the chance to improve our jobs.

7. Listen and respond to feedback.

Its also important to monitor the mood and perspectives of the entire team. Solicit input on safety, values,
quality, leadership, services, lean manufacturing, training everything that has a direct impact on your
success.
Then, of course, you must follow through by making improvements based on what you hear, measure and
observe. Doing so improves employee satisfaction and loyalty and elevates productivity.

8. Be consistent.
Finally, for all of these team-building initiatives, you must be intentional and persistent.
People must see that changes arent temporary or one-offs but part of an enduring, ongoing process. The
more changes for the better are implemented and stay implemented, the more people seek to participate in
improvements and new methodologies.
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