Team building skills are critical for your effectiveness as a manager or entrepreneur. And even if you are not in a management or leadership role yet, better understanding of team work can make you a more effective employee and give you an extra edge in your corporate office.
A team building success is when your team can accomplish something much bigger and work more effectively than a group of the same individuals working on their own. You have a strong synergy of individual contributions. But there are two critical factors in building a high performance team.
The first factor in team effectiveness is the diversity of skills and personalities. When people use their strengths in full, but can compensate for each other's weaknesses. When different personality types balance and complement each other.
The other critical element of team work success is that all the team efforts are directed towards the same clear goals, the team goals. This relies heavily on good communication in the team and the harmony in member relationships.
In real life, team work success rarely happens by itself, without focused team building efforts and activities. There is simply too much space for problems. For example, different personalities, instead of complementing and balancing each other, may build up conflicts. Or even worse, some people with similar personalities may start fighting for authority and dominance in certain areas of expertise. Even if the team goals are clear and accepted by everyone, there may be no team commitment to the group goals or no consensus on the means of achieving those goals: individuals in the team just follow their personal opinions and move in conflicting directions. There may be a lack of trust and openness that blocks the critical communication and leads to loss of coordination in the individual efforts. And on and on. This is why every team needs a good leader who is able to deal with all such team work issues.
Here are some additional team building ideas, techniques, and tips you can try when managing teams in your situation.
Make sure that the team goals are totally clear and completely understood and accepted by each team member.
Make sure there is complete clarity in who is responsible for what and avoid overlapping authority. For example, if there is a risk that two team members will be competing for control in certain area, try to divide that area into two distinct parts and give each more complete control in one of those parts, according to those individual's strengths and personal inclinations.
Build trust with your team members by spending one-on-one time in an atmosphere of honesty and openness. Be loyal to your employees, if you expect the same.
Allow your office team members build trust and openness between each other in team building activities and events. Give them some opportunities of extra social time with each other in an atmosphere that encourages open communication. For example in a group lunch on Friday. Though be careful with those corporate team building activities or events in which socializing competes too much with someone's family time.
For issues that rely heavily on the team consensus and commitment, try to involve the whole team in the decision making process. For example, via group goal setting or group sessions with collective discussions of possible decision options or solution ideas. What you want to achieve here is that each team member feels his or her ownership in the final decision, solution, or idea. And the more he or she feels this way, the more likely he or she is to agree with and commit to the decided line of action, the more you build team commitment to the goals and decisions.
When managing teams, make sure there are no blocked lines of communications and you and your people are kept fully informed.
Even when your team is spread over different locations, you can still maintain effective team communication. Just do your meetings online and slash your travel costs. Click here for a free test drive.
Be careful with interpersonal issues. Recognize them early and deal with them in full.
Don't miss opportunities to empower your employees. Say thank you or show appreciation of an individual team player's work.
Don't limit yourself to negative feedback. Be fare. Whenever there is an opportunity, give positive feedback as well.
Finally, though team work and team building can offer many challenges, the pay off from a high performance team is well worth it.
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Tuesday, April 08, 2008
Adoption in Peninsular Malaysia
Adoptions are not common in Malaysia. In general there are two types of adoptions in Malaysia - adoption of a Muslim child and adoption of a non-Muslim child. Prospective adoptive parent(s) who are non-Muslim may not adopt Muslim children. Whether it is a Muslim adoption or non-Muslim adoption, the adoptive parent(s) must be an “ordinary resident” in Malaysia, i.e. working and living in Malaysia for at least two years before the application and the prospective parent(s) may also be required to remain in Malaysia during the process, which can take some time.
Muslim Adoptions
The Registration of Adoptions Act 1952 and relevant Syariah laws govern the adoption of a Muslim child in Malaysia. A prospective child may be identified for adoption privately or through the Social Welfare Department. A court petition is not required. The Muslim prospective adoptive parent applies to the National Registration Department to document the child as his/her adopted child. To qualify, the adoptive parent must have resided with and had continuous custody of the child for a period of not less than two years. The application should include evidence relating to the care, maintenance and education of the child during the two years from the date of the biological parent’s statutory declaration relinquishing all parental rights.
If the National Registration Department is satisfied with the evidence submitted, an entry will be made in the Register and a certified copy of the entry delivered to the adoptive parents. If the Registration Department is not satisfied with the evidence, an officer from the Social Welfare Department will conduct an investigation into the well being of the child. Children adopted under the Registration Adoptions Act cannot assume the name or inherit property of the adoptive parents.
Non-Muslim Adoptions
Relevant Adoption Act
The adoption of a non-Muslim child in Peninsular Malaysia is governed by the Adoption Act of 1952 (Act 257).
Who can adopt a Non-Muslim child?
- Married couples can adopt both female and male children;
- Single mothers can adopt both female and male children;
- Single fathers can only adopt male children.
Age Requirement
If the prospective adoptive parents in a Non-Muslim adoption are not related to the child, at least one of them must be at least 25 years old. If they are related to the child, one of the prospective adoptive parents must be at least 21 years old.
Adoption Agencies
There are no adoption agencies in Malaysia. A prospective child may be identified privately through friends or relatives in Malaysia, or through the Malaysian Social Welfare Department. Prospective adoptive parent(s) may also contact the Malaysian Social Welfare Department for details of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) that may be able to help in adoption matters in Malaysia.
Government Department responsible for Adoptions
The Family and Children’s Division of the Social Welfare Department, part of the Ministry of National Unity and Social Welfare Development, is responsible for adoption enquiries: They can be contacted at:
Family & Children’s Division
Social Welfare Department
Ministry of National Unity & Social Welfare Development
14th Floor, Wisma Shen
50100 Kuala Lumpur
Malaysia
Main Tel: (603) 2692 5011
E-mail: here
or contact: Mr Mohammad Azmi, Tel: (603) 2692 3537
Social Welfare Officers are normally appointed by the Court as a guardian to investigate the background and circumstances of the child and the adoptive parents(s), including all matters relevant to the proposed adoption.
The National Registration Department of Malaysia is responsible for issuing an adoption certificate upon receiving the adoption order from the Court. Their address is:
National Registration Department of Malaysia
Adoption Division
Wisma Pendaftaran
Jalan Persiaran Barat
46551 Petaling Jaya
Selangor
Malaysia
Tel: (603) 7968 3200 or 3284
Fax: (603) 7958 5098
Court Adoption and Departmental Adoption
Court Adoption
Once a child has been identified, the prospective adoptive parent(s) must obtain a statutory declaration from the biological parent(s) relinquishing all parental rights toward the child. The prospective parent should engage a lawyer (see our List of Local Lawyers here). The prospective parents must care for the adoptive child not less than three (3) consecutive months before his/her lawyer is able to petition to the Sessions Court or the High Court for the adoption order. The Social Welfare Department would be involved as a report on the child and prospective adoptive parents will be required by the Court before they are able to grant an adoption order. This process is shorter than a Department Adoption (see below).
The age limit for the adoptive child in a Curt adoption is before the child’s 21st birthday.
Departmental Adoption
Once a child has been identified, the prospective adoptive parent(s) must obtain a statutory declaration from the biological parent(s) relinquishing all parental rights toward the child. The prospective adoptive parent notifies the Social Welfare Department in the State in which he/she is resident of his/her intention to apply for an adoption order of the child. If the Social Welfare Department agrees with the adoption, an “offer” letter is issued to the prospective adoptive parents. This notification must be in writing. No lawyers are involved in Departmental Adoptions. Prospective parent(s) should contact the Registration Department to enquire on the status of the application. The case will come to conclusion once the Social Welfare Officer submits a full report on the child and prospective adoptive parents. The whole procedure may take two years or more.
The age limit for the adoptive child in a Departmental adoption is before the child’s 18th birthday.
Children adopted under the Registration of Adoptions Act cannot assume the name or inherit the property of the adoptive parents. Children adopted under this Act must surrender their original birth certificate with his/her biological parent(s)’ details to the Registration Department before an adoption certificate is issued.
Malaysian Documentary Requirements
The prospective adoptive parent(s) must present the following documents:
- a statutory declaration (notarised affidavit) from the biological parent(s) relinquishing all parental rights towards the child;
- adoptive child’s original birth certificate;
- prospective adoptive parents’ marriage certificate;
- prospective adoptive parents passport(s).
Muslim Adoptions
The Registration of Adoptions Act 1952 and relevant Syariah laws govern the adoption of a Muslim child in Malaysia. A prospective child may be identified for adoption privately or through the Social Welfare Department. A court petition is not required. The Muslim prospective adoptive parent applies to the National Registration Department to document the child as his/her adopted child. To qualify, the adoptive parent must have resided with and had continuous custody of the child for a period of not less than two years. The application should include evidence relating to the care, maintenance and education of the child during the two years from the date of the biological parent’s statutory declaration relinquishing all parental rights.
If the National Registration Department is satisfied with the evidence submitted, an entry will be made in the Register and a certified copy of the entry delivered to the adoptive parents. If the Registration Department is not satisfied with the evidence, an officer from the Social Welfare Department will conduct an investigation into the well being of the child. Children adopted under the Registration Adoptions Act cannot assume the name or inherit property of the adoptive parents.
Non-Muslim Adoptions
Relevant Adoption Act
The adoption of a non-Muslim child in Peninsular Malaysia is governed by the Adoption Act of 1952 (Act 257).
Who can adopt a Non-Muslim child?
- Married couples can adopt both female and male children;
- Single mothers can adopt both female and male children;
- Single fathers can only adopt male children.
Age Requirement
If the prospective adoptive parents in a Non-Muslim adoption are not related to the child, at least one of them must be at least 25 years old. If they are related to the child, one of the prospective adoptive parents must be at least 21 years old.
Adoption Agencies
There are no adoption agencies in Malaysia. A prospective child may be identified privately through friends or relatives in Malaysia, or through the Malaysian Social Welfare Department. Prospective adoptive parent(s) may also contact the Malaysian Social Welfare Department for details of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) that may be able to help in adoption matters in Malaysia.
Government Department responsible for Adoptions
The Family and Children’s Division of the Social Welfare Department, part of the Ministry of National Unity and Social Welfare Development, is responsible for adoption enquiries: They can be contacted at:
Family & Children’s Division
Social Welfare Department
Ministry of National Unity & Social Welfare Development
14th Floor, Wisma Shen
50100 Kuala Lumpur
Malaysia
Main Tel: (603) 2692 5011
E-mail: here
or contact: Mr Mohammad Azmi, Tel: (603) 2692 3537
Social Welfare Officers are normally appointed by the Court as a guardian to investigate the background and circumstances of the child and the adoptive parents(s), including all matters relevant to the proposed adoption.
The National Registration Department of Malaysia is responsible for issuing an adoption certificate upon receiving the adoption order from the Court. Their address is:
National Registration Department of Malaysia
Adoption Division
Wisma Pendaftaran
Jalan Persiaran Barat
46551 Petaling Jaya
Selangor
Malaysia
Tel: (603) 7968 3200 or 3284
Fax: (603) 7958 5098
Court Adoption and Departmental Adoption
Court Adoption
Once a child has been identified, the prospective adoptive parent(s) must obtain a statutory declaration from the biological parent(s) relinquishing all parental rights toward the child. The prospective parent should engage a lawyer (see our List of Local Lawyers here). The prospective parents must care for the adoptive child not less than three (3) consecutive months before his/her lawyer is able to petition to the Sessions Court or the High Court for the adoption order. The Social Welfare Department would be involved as a report on the child and prospective adoptive parents will be required by the Court before they are able to grant an adoption order. This process is shorter than a Department Adoption (see below).
The age limit for the adoptive child in a Curt adoption is before the child’s 21st birthday.
Departmental Adoption
Once a child has been identified, the prospective adoptive parent(s) must obtain a statutory declaration from the biological parent(s) relinquishing all parental rights toward the child. The prospective adoptive parent notifies the Social Welfare Department in the State in which he/she is resident of his/her intention to apply for an adoption order of the child. If the Social Welfare Department agrees with the adoption, an “offer” letter is issued to the prospective adoptive parents. This notification must be in writing. No lawyers are involved in Departmental Adoptions. Prospective parent(s) should contact the Registration Department to enquire on the status of the application. The case will come to conclusion once the Social Welfare Officer submits a full report on the child and prospective adoptive parents. The whole procedure may take two years or more.
The age limit for the adoptive child in a Departmental adoption is before the child’s 18th birthday.
Children adopted under the Registration of Adoptions Act cannot assume the name or inherit the property of the adoptive parents. Children adopted under this Act must surrender their original birth certificate with his/her biological parent(s)’ details to the Registration Department before an adoption certificate is issued.
Malaysian Documentary Requirements
The prospective adoptive parent(s) must present the following documents:
- a statutory declaration (notarised affidavit) from the biological parent(s) relinquishing all parental rights towards the child;
- adoptive child’s original birth certificate;
- prospective adoptive parents’ marriage certificate;
- prospective adoptive parents passport(s).