If you ask one of the professional guides at the Colorado Mountain School about the four rules that experienced teams always abide by in the backcountry, they will tell you: (1) stay together, (2) stay together, (3) stay together, and (4) never split up.

In the army, leaders live by the principle of “take care of your people and they will take care of you” and soldiers “watch their buddies.”

“No one is thinking if everyone is thinking alike.” - General George S. Patton

Think about the importance of this statement. Innovative teams not only embrace differences of opinions and new ideas – they encourage it. Through a diversity of ideas teams learn to innovate, challenge the status quo, and enhance their processes and projects.

Here are a few tips to help your team think differently:

With less than three months remaining in the year, it’s time to dust off your 2005 goals and assess your progress. Here are some questions to ask as you review your goals.

“Teamwork -- noun: work done by several associates with each doing a part but all subordinating personal prominence to the efficiency of the whole.” Do the individuals on your team know their part? Have you discussed and defined each role? Have you reinforced the importance of each team member’s performance to the group?

Does your team have an agreed upon method and process for interacting with each other? Has your team discussed how it wants to "be" together? Has your team identified the dynamics that will result in the highest level of performance for everyone?

I work with clients every week to help improve engagement, collaboration, retention, and productivity. And I know that when the term "performance management" comes up everyone either starts laughing or running. The fact of the matter is that if you fall into the trap of creating annual goals and then never reviewing them (individually and/or with your people), then skepticism is probably well founded, and you ARE wasting time.