TEAMS by Barbara Baggerly-Hinojosa

As Daniel Goleman stated in his book, Primal Leadership: Realizing the Power of Emotional Intelligence (2002), “leaders work under the assumption that nothing important gets done alone” (pg. 51).   

One sign of an effective leader is the group of followers who exert an energy that radiates from the leader’s upbeat and enthusiastic style.  (Photo Credits: Google Images)

Researchers have found that the glue that holds a team together and commits people to a share goal is the emotions that they feel.  Being able to promote positive emotions between people working together is an essential task of the leader.  Under the guidance of an effective leader, people should feel a mutual comfort level that comes from a positive relationship.  Positive relationships between people working in a team can lead to the sharing of ideas, new learning from one another, collaboratively made decisions, and task completion. 

Effective teams have the ability to remain focused even when profound change and uncertainty are surrounding them.  An effective leader knows how to bring this kind of emotional bonding together to form teams that drive people to get more done together than could ever be possible alone.  Relationship and team building skills allow leaders to use their emotional intelligence to work. 

For leaders, teams, and organizations, the bonding that forms relationships and teams is particularly important.  The heart of any healthy group is the relationships between people and the organization’s goals.  Whether it is a family, a club, or a company, when members of a group are attached to each other and to common goals, a sense of well-being and enjoyment exists.  This kind of environment allows people to perform at much higher levels because a high performing team has members who want to belong and are strongly bonded together. 

Effective leadership is all about how people are brought together to create a synergy that will bring out their best and achieve team goals.  The following tips may help you create more effective teams:

·        Focus your mind on the words you use and the transactions you use with others

·        Get rid of fear, threats, and negativity within your team

·        Use dialogue that is driven by mutual respect

Barbara Baggerly-Hinojosa is a mother, educator, and wife living in the Rio Grande Valley in Texas.  She is a PhD student with Our Lady of the Lake University in Leadership Studies.  Mrs. Baggerly-Hinojosa is the President of the Leadership Empowerment Group, LLC and is currently researching the relationship between the leadership of the high school principal and the high school drop out rate.  

Mrs. Baggerly-Hinojosa is the author of Are You A Ten?  The Ten Characteristics of a Servant Leader. 

For ordering information, please contact Mrs. Baggerly-Hinojosa at Barbara@leadershipempowermentgroup.com or visit Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble.com