Friday, April 30, 2010

DO WE HAVE A TEAM?



SHARING THE OPINION……AND INFORMATION

A successful organisation depend on the quality of the leader, whom has vision and a mission to lead the organisation realize its goals and objectives. The task to lead an organisation is a rare opportunity with a big responsibility, and it is a turst (amanah), whoever is in the capacity to lead has to work extremely hard and also very effectively. The leader has to be smart in order for the organization to be in the forefront.

ONE of the most important prerequisites for effective leadership is the ability to create a strong team within the organisation.

The success of a key player of the team will definitely depend on the cooperation that he receives from the rest of his/her teammates. He/She also requires the support and encouragement from his/her seniority who are supposed to consistently advise and provide with facilities and incentives so as to ensure he/she is physically, emotionally and mentally prepared to work with the rest of the team.

Assuming that he/she and the rest of the team have already internalized the goal of the team, the internalization process sometimes require time but once it is imbued in the minds of the members of the team, the level of motivation will reach its highest. Once this is attained, we will have the best team possible. The best team will make things happen, it enhances quality and productivity, and help to increase the level of profitability and long-run survival of the organisation. It prevents talented staff from moving out to a new workplace. It also reduces the time require to accomplish a certain task as compared to the time required to accomplish the same task without a strong team.

This is also true the case of managing an organistions. Building a team is not an easy task, many organisations have failed to achieve their desired goals, faced internal hostilities and instability and, eventually collapse due to their failure in building a team that can function in accordance with the mission and strategies of the organisation.

There are several conditions that are indispensable to create a strong team by selecting or hiring the best individuals suited for a particular job. Unfortunately, this criteria of choosing the best is not always applied due to the problems of favoritism, lack of information, bribery, etc….Due to these, we can find in many organisations today, a lot of problems creeping in. Absenteeism, unqualified staff holding key positions in the organization, low quality and productivity, and not being competitive in the international market, are due to failure of not adopting the above criteria of “choosing the best”.

It is pertinent at this juncture to relate the act of “choosing the best people” with trust and loyalty to the organisation and leadership. If the members of the staff feel that one of them has chosen based on favoritism and not due to his capability, there will tend to be a general feeling of mistrust and disloyalty.

Of course in an organisation that strives for profits, the “accountability for result” in the form of targeted profit, will eventually lead to the appointment of the best applicants and the building of the best team.

In order to build a strong team, choosing the best people is a necessary but not a sufficient condition, The best people have to be placed in their proper positions so that they are able to do what they are best in doing. This approach can definitely maximize the returns of a company or the output of an organisation.

Placing the best people in the wrong places reduces the integrity of the organisation and its leadership. The consequence of this problem will be eventual deterioration of the conditions of the organization which lead to its collapse due to the lack of cooperation and team sprit among the members.

A very important for team building is the assistance given by the seniority and leaders of the organistion to be subordinates to internalize the goals of the organisation.

Apart from developing and nurturing future leaders who would be able to take over when they leave, leaders are responsible for such things as a sense of quality in the institution. Effective leaders encourage contrary opinions, an important source of vitality.

Leaders are responsible for effectiveness. They can delegate efficiency but they must deal personally with effectiveness which comes from allowing everyone to reach their potential.

The room for improvement is ample, the right attitude towards excellence and feeling of responsibility are very fundamental to this turn around result. Planning to direct change to desired result is the absolute necessity of survival and prosperity.

Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. has been reported to have emphasized the appointment of the best men to positions of authority. He has warned that organisation will deteriorate and eventually collapse with the appointment of incapable leaders.

Wrong appointment can lead to a disaster for the organisation and also the public at large

“Allah will not change the fate of a people until they change what is in themselves” – (Ar-Ra’d 13:12)