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As the Director of the Engineering department at DeWalt Corporation, it is my charge to evaluate and understand the individuals that make up my department, my team. In order for me to utilize their strengths and develop their weaknesses, I have to understand them on more than just a superficial level. It is a part of my job that I relish…the opportunity to establish a relationship with the people that I spend more time with on a daily basis than my family!
Building a “team” does not and cannot stop with my relationship with my charges, but it must extend to their relationship with each other. It is incumbent on me to facilitate, as creatively as possible, understanding and relationship between them so as to break down political and personal barriers and improve productivity and motivation. As teammates develop stronger relationships, care and interest in each other increases, as does care and interest in project execution and completion.
Team building and employee bonding are woven into the culture at DeWalt Corporation. Opportunities for team members to connect have become so superfluous that we hardly recognize them as an “exercise” anymore…team building and bonding is just us…being us. Our relationship connections are built during Birthday gatherings, Safety meetings at 6:00 am with coffee and Jenny’s breakfast casserole, draft day pizza parties for fantasy sports leagues and company outings to baseball and hockey games.
While I am in favor of and regularly implement team bonding activities in my effort to encourage employees to better understand each other’s strengths, weaknesses, and interests, sometimes it just happens…organically…and there is nothing better or more effective. One instance I recently witnessed this was when all of us at the DeWalt Corporation office took time to witness the solar eclipse. Our shared enthusiasm and excitement for the solar spectacle was paralleled by my enthusiasm and excitement for a team…united.
While I am in favor of and regularly implement team bonding activities in my effort to encourage employees to better understand each other’s strengths, weaknesses, and interests – sometimes it just happens organically…and there is nothing better or more effective.
Todd Wood
Director of Engineering