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http://fragmnt.tv Does it surprise you that your team dislikes meetings? Do you ever think "This meeting is a waste of my time!"? The book I recommend today is attempting to change that...and I believe it can. http://amzn.to/gedUdz (Affiliate Link) Distributed by Tubemogul.

http://fragmnt.tv You don't have to change your management style, but you need to change your management strategy. Distributed by Tubemogul.

http://fragmnt.tv Sometimes all you need to do is ask. Sometimes you need to sell it. Distributed by Tubemogul.

http://fragmnt.tv Are you working more than the standard 40 hour work week? Regardless of whether this frustrates you, or gives you something to brag about at the water cooler, it may be telling you something about you, your team and/or your company. Distributed by Tubemogul.

http://fragmnt.tv We have all obviously failed at some point or another. The thing that sets us apart is how we handle ourselves when it happens. It is tempting to blame failures on external sources or to just ignore them completely, but that doesn’t get you anywhere. In order to move forward, you need to own your mistakes and respond to them. It doesn’t matter how many times you fall on your face. Failure is ALWAYS valuable if it causes forward movement. Distributed by Tubemogul.

http://fragmnt.tv We have all obviously failed at some point or another. The thing that sets us apart is how we handle ourselves when it happens. It is tempting to blame failures on external sources or to just ignore them completely, but that doesn’t get you anywhere. In order to move forward, you need to own your mistakes and respond to them. It doesn’t matter how many times you fall on your face. Failure is ALWAYS valuable if it causes forward movement. Distributed by Tubemogul.

http://fragmnt.tv Being on the same wavelength as the people on your team is a lot of fun, but is everyone hearing the same message, or are you only speaking to a few individuals that think the same way you do? Being able to have your message understood by EVERYONE may not be easy or convenient, but it is extremely important. If you want to stop wasting your time “clearing things up” it may be time to change your approach. And seriously, if you got the stick on the ice piece...twitter.com/stevenjbarker Distributed by Tubemogul.

http://fragmnt.tv There is a moment as a team leader where you realize that it is no longer your job to make the widget, it's your job to make sure the widgets get made. Now, you can either approach that with an attitude of power or an attitude of support. Either way your career and your success are now in the hands of your team. Episode 78 Distributed by Tubemogul.

http://fragmnt.tv I’ve only played tennis a couple times in my life, but it didn’t take long for me to realize the importance of staying focused. Episode 77 Distributed by Tubemogul.

http://fragmnt.tv As managers, we realize that not every generation is the same. The generalizations about Generation X, Y, and Baby Boomers are endless. The question is, how do we leverage those differences and motivate such a diverse workforce? Episode 76 Distributed by Tubemogul.

http://fragmnt.tv When I first started leading teams, I was under the impression that the strongest teams were the ones that were the most emotionally connected. I soon came to the realization that while this can lead to a very closely knit team, it not only takes far too much time and effort to create, it can cause a number of negative symptoms as well. Building a team is about more than just building friendships. Close relationships within a team can be valuable, but they should not be the focus. Episode 75 Distributed by Tubemogul.

http://fragmnt.tv To be a great manager you need to be a great resource. However, what do you do when you don't have the natural ability to remember everything you see and hear? I want to recommend a tool that should be in every manager's tool belt, especially those who spend a lot of their time in the digital world. We are constantly bombarded with information and much of which is valuable, but only a portion of it is immediately actionable. What do we do with everything that we don't want to forget and eventually want to come back to? Episode 74 Distributed by Tubemogul.

We have all been through some form of annual review. To be honest, I think it has lost it's value. We want to be able to measure growth and improvement from year to year, but we end up only addressing what has happened in the previous few months. What would happen if we threw the idea of an annual review out the window? Is there a different system that would be more valuable to you and your team? Distributed by Tubemogul.

Many managers find themselves in a position where their primary job is to "put out fires." However, what happens to your team when you stop trying to contain the fires and start trying to fuel them instead? Distributed by Tubemogul.

Many of you lead teams that are paid to work for you. But there are a handful of you that are dealing with a slightly different beast. What happens to an organization when there is no paycheck at the end of the week? Is there a difference between for-profit and non-profit teams? Distributed by Tubemogul.

Step one: have a plan. Without step one, step two and three are pointless. Michael Cardus reminds us that having a proper process is just as crucial as having a proper plan (see shownotes at Fragmnt.tv). We must remember that the first version is only the first version. Your team has a lot to add and a great leader takes advantage of every resource at their disposal. Have a plan, but don't forget about the process. Distributed by Tubemogul.

So, you're having a bad day. Everybody has them, right? What makes you any different? Well, when you hold any sort of authority on your team you must understand that you can be infectious. You do not live in a vacuum, and neither does your team. Distributed by Tubemogul.

No matter what your opinion is of the TSA there is something to we can learn from them. Have a plan! If you trust your team you owe them a plan. Let them succeed. Let them shine. At very least, give them something to work with.

So you want your boss to start watching Fragmnt.tv. How do you suggest it without getting fired?

If I had to give advice as to where to focus for 2010 I would relay words from a High School football coach. "Do your own job before you step in to help someone else." Otherwise you become the weakest point and, in essence, defeat the purpose of helping in the first place. This is valuable for your team to remember, but of utmost importance to you as a team leader. You only make your own job more difficult when you don't have it together, and you proceed to "manage" someone else. Worry about yourself before you point your finger at the next person in line.

When we refer to the "big picture" what are we actually refering to? Is it purely just an understanding that each decision has an impact beyond it's immediate surroundings? Or is the big picture something more, a vivid picture of what could be?

Are you satisfied at your job? Does your satisfaction effect the consistent quality of work that you do? It's likely that your team is effected in the same way, so don't take their job satisfaction for granted.

As a manager you have two basic options when leading your team. First, you can lead them toward a predefined, tested path. Or second you can identify the objective and lay out the boundaries, having your team members work out their path to success along with you. Which ever you decide, commit to it. Their success is depending on you.

Something magic happens when you sit in a car with one other person for a long period of time. This could be because all you can do is stare out the window, possibly we just can't handle the silence, or maybe we actually want to talk. Our trip this last week allowed me and my wife to have some one-on-one during the drive down. It was awesome. In fact, it made me think how valuable these kind of moments are to our teams. What happens when we have conversations without objectives? It may be worth investigating. Our trip this last week allowed me and my wife to have some one-on-one during the drive down. It was awesome. In fact, it made me think how valuable these kind of moments are to our teams. What happens when we have conversations without objectives? It may be worth investigating.

We accept when a product is especially good at one thing but poor at another. In most situations it makes perfect sense. When it come to choosing a vehicle, if I want a large seating capacity I don't mind lower gas milege. If I wanted a more powerful computer I understand it's not going to fit in the palm of my hand. We've got to apply that same understanding to the people we work with. We can't expect people to be "well rounded" as that would distract them from being eccpetional in their own right. Help each person to find their sweet spot and then let them swing for the fences. That's the point right?

I have a confession to make. Even though I see little team building value in the average "team building" game, I've been guilty of persuading my team to participate in one. While there was no real long term value in our 60 minutes of paintball, a few of us definitely had a great time. This week Michael Scott (played by Steve Carell) on NBC's "The Office" reminds me that games do have their place.

Wayne Gretzky was arguably one of the greatest players to ever play the game of hockey and there are lots of reasons why he is considered great. The one I feel that is important for us to focus on as team leaders is his knowledge of his team. We must know our team, from our coworkers to our family. We must understand each of their wirings and needs the way the Great One knew his team mates. www.fragmnt.tv

After being disciplined by your superior, how do you handle relaying that information to your team? You may have good intentions, but the way many people choose to approach the situation can be counterproductive. Our job is to help our team own the issue and work together to find a solution. But all too often, this is more difficult than it seems. www.fragmnt.tv

For most team leaders this book will show the importance of addressing the values of family, engagement and passion. It is a reminder that if these issues go unaddressed, on your team, that people like Gary Vaynerchuk may potentially pour gas on the embers.

As a successful team leader you must continue to learn. There are a handful of authors I feel are necessary to follow in your attempt to build unbreakable teams. In this episode I suggest a few books you should start with, but remember this only scratches the surface of what these authors have to offer.

This recession will end, but will you team look the same? Addecco International released some interesting statistics that we should all pay attention to.

We work in scary times. Many times, when we feel threatened, we want to control everything ourselves. Even then, we must remember that the team matters, that team ownership is vital, and that fear is not a motivator. Don't be shortsighted. Think about the big picture, think about the long term. This too will pass.

Why is it that we can completely change depending on our surroundings? Driving in LA can make you drive a little faster and slightly more aggressive, while Disneyland returns you to your childhood. How you are wired plays a significant role, but you can not underestimate the power of your environment.

There has been a lot of talk online about the importance of listening. A few have even taken that a step further to say that we do not only need to listen we need to care. And I think that directly relates to developing a team. The trick is that caring means different things to different people.

"Create Warmth" with Starbucks. Printed on the back of a Starbucks business card was this very simple, yet far reaching statement. Having the power to clearly communicate to the outsider what working there is all about and at the same providing the complex direction for the company's every day decisions.

Your team will be faced with many threats in the months ahead. It is your job to prepare you team to address those threats and to make sure your team identifies with the group enough that they aren't racing for the back door.

Fish don't do very well in a dirty fish tank and our teams are not that much different. Taking the fish out of the fish tank may initially feel like you've solved the problem, but if you fail to clean the tank before putting them back in you may have just wasted your time.

How do you define an unbreakable team? What is necessary for building an unbreakable team? Today, we discuss what it is and how we can create one.

Silence snowballs. We must make every creative effort to keep the lines of communication wide open.

Personality testing can be enjoyable but, when it comes to developing your team, what is it's place?

While focus is an absolute when leading a team, tone is the forgotten necessity.

An interview with Tatango's Derek Johnson in which he shares a few secrets to his teams success.

How you pitch your company to potential clients and partners can have a sizable impact on your own teams development. Your Elevator Pitch has value both externally as well as internally.

Team development is about more than the team. The new generation's expectations are going to effect how you strengthen your team.

What should Virgin, Starbucks, and your team, have in common?

Do you care about your team's work/life balance? Does it really matter what they do when they're off the clock?

Did you know that, when it comes to the amount of effort each member puts into the team, you are the one setting the bar? In fact, your percieved level of effort is more important than your expertise.

Is there a difference between team building and team development? Definitely. It's the difference between painting the car and rebuilding the motor.