Guides to Choosing Your Team (4)

/ Adewumi Oni / Leave a comment

Today we will look at two more factors.

Personality Factor: The person behind the person is more important than the person. That sounds confusing isn’t it? It sounds like a repetition but it is beyond that. Knowing the name, skills and experience of a person is quite different from knowing the temperament of the person. He can have a nice look and solid Resume but with a temperament ill-fitted for the role in mind. The real person behind every name is revealed by the temperament.

 

If your venture is a customer facing type, you won’t want to recruit a shy and introverted person as your Front Desk staff. Front Desks are for people with outgoing dispositions, and the introverts are more suited for back office roles. It is therefore important to know the temperament of your candidates before you sign them on. How do they handle stressful situations? How do they handle pressure? Your screening test must be designed such that the personality of the candidate is revealed.

 

Cultural factor: There are two aspects to the Cultural factor, these are Organizational Culture and Environmental Culture. It is important that whoever you are considering as part of your team fits into both your organizational culture and environmental culture. Cultural misfit can cause serious trouble for any venture. The candidate must fit into your organizational culture and also be able to adjust to the culture of the environment in which your venture operates. Some people excel in an environment devoid of too many rules, while some are process and rule oriented. You must ask questions that will reveal the cultural orientation of your candidates.

 

We will pause here today and continue tomorrow.

 

God bless us all.

 

Good morning!

 

Adewumi Oni

08028395824

09095321147

wumioni@yahoo.com

http://www.adewumioni.com

Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/adewumi.oni

Twitter: onadol2010

Guides to Choosing Your Team (3)

/ Adewumi Oni / Leave a comment

​Another factor that should influence your team selection is the market you are playing in or you intend to play in. 

Is your venture a market interfacing venture? 

Which market are you playing/do you intend to  play in? 

Which segment of the market do you intend to play in? 

Does the candidate understand that market segment? 

Does he have any experience in that market? 

Who are the major players in that market? 

Does he know about these other players in the market? 

Does he know the rules and regulations of the market? 

Where is the market located? It could be physical location or online? Does he have easy access to the market? 

Is the market regulated? Does he have the qualifications to be a player according to the regulatory body? 

These are some of the questions that must be answered before you settle for a team member. 

We will continue with the other factors tomorrow. 
God bless us all. 
Good morning! 
Adewumi Oni

08028395824

09095321147

wumioni@yahoo.com

http://www.adewumioni.com

Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/adewumi.oni

Twitter: onadol2010

Guide to Choosing Your Team (2)

/ Adewumi Oni / Leave a comment

Every vision requires people to become reality, however you can’t choose those people based on sentiments. You choice has to be objective and be based on several factors including affinity of vision. People who have vision similar to your vision will likely be willing to work with you and they will work with passion. People of no vision usually lack passion, they are mostly driven by monetary rewards. Having them on your team may not help you because they wont see beyond the immediate returns.

So apart from your own vision, you need to be sure the people you are selecting have visions and the visions are not diametrically opposite yours.

 

2. Skill Factor: You don’t want to have square peg in round holes in your venture. It is necessary you test those you want to include in your team for requisite skills. There are several ways to do this including interview, aptitude test, psychometric test, case studies, etc. Beyond technical skills, you need to test for some soft skills like relationship management skill, communication skill, how well can they cope under stress, and other skills can directly impact on the success of the venture.

 

You are not testing to completely exclude some people. Some have basic knowledge and skills and have a ‘willing to learn’ attitude. Depending on the stage of your venture and availability of time, you can take on those with the attitude to learn and basic skills. Some have the core skills and can be engaged, subject to scaling attitude hurdle.

 

In summary, skill factor is important and will help you have the right kind of people on your team. Don’t undermine the success of your venture by allowing emotions to rule your judgement when selecting your team. If someone doesn’t have it, the next question is can he be trained? If No, there is no need being emotional, even if you like the personality of the candidate, unless there is another area the candidate can be engaged.

 

God bless us all.

 

Good morning!

 

Adewumi Oni

08028395824

09095321147

wumioni@yahoo.com

http://www.adewumioni.com

Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/adewumi.oni

Twitter: onadol2010

Guides to Choosing Your Team (1)

/ Adewumi Oni / Leave a comment

In most cases, the success of any venture whether commercial or non-commercial depends largely on the make-up of the team behind the venture. Most successes are the results of combined efforts, not one individual effort. For instance, one footballer may emerge as the highest goal scorer in a game, but without the support of other members of the team, he would not have scored those goals.

 

It is therefore important to consider several factors when forming or making your team. This series will look at some of the factors to be considered and the pitfalls to watch out for. My hope is that we would learn how to choose team, or how to make our teams stronger by the time we are done with this series.

 

Here are some of the factors to be considered when forming your team:

 

a. Vision factor

b. Skill factor

c. Market factor

d. Personality factor

e. Cultural factor

f. Language factor

 

Let us start with the Vision factor. Vision determines almost everything about a venture. It determines the scope, the resources required, both human and non-human, the time frame, the linkages that will be needed. Anyone who intends to set out to achieve a mission must first sit down and draw up the vision. Luke 14:28 is not just about cost, it is about the vision.

 

Your vision will determine the kind of people you need in your team, their skill sets, their temperaments, their dispositions, etc. Let us look at the example of Jesus Christ when he was selecting the first twelve disciples. He chose people who were busy, engaged, rugged and determined. Peter for instance had toiled all night and caught nothing, but still had enough faith to wash his net in preparation for the next night. He also still had enough faith to trust Jesus when Jesus asked him to thrust out his net again, this time around when the day had broken. He was very hardworking. Jesus knew the vision of reaching the entire world, and knew he needed energetic people as the first disciples. People who had enough energy to rock the world. Mathew was also a tax collector and a busy man. None of this team members was a layabout. If your vision is big and with a global mandate, you need very strong, resilient and broad minded people.

 

Do not start forming your team when you have no clear vision yet, otherwise you will have the wrong people on your team. We will dig further on Vision factor tomorrow, before we proceed to the other factors.

 

God bless us all.

 

Good morning!

 

Adewumi Oni

08028395824

09095321147

wumioni@yahoo.com

http://www.adewumioni.com

Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/adewumi.oni

Twitter: onadol2010

Do You Want to be Relevant (3)

/ Adewumi Oni / Leave a comment

​As we conclude on this series today, as a way of recap, we have discussed the following as ingredients of relevance:

1. Honing your skills

2. Good interpersonal relationships skill

3. Right Attitude 

4. Problem solving ability 

5. Rich network 
The last two ingredients are :

Extra Mileage disposition 

Ability to recognise your limit
Extra Mileage disposition: While you are encouraged to master your field very well, it is important to have working knowledge of other fields. Most employers want well rounded employees, not single tracked employees. You therefore need to read and learn about other fields connected to your job. It makes you command premium attention and value. Also have the attitude of persisting more than others. Stay alert when others get tired. 
Ability to recognise your limits: Sometimes you will be called to work in a committee where you are the most junior. Don’t state believing or acting as if  you are equal with the other committee members. Pay them their respect, know your limit. This will endear you to the hearts of your superiors and they will feel safe to ask for your opinion on matters beyond your level. 
In summary, you can always remain relevant if you are able to master these seven keys. 
God bless us all. 
Good morning! 

Adewumi Oni 

08028395824

09095321147

wumioni@yahoo.com

http://www.adewumioni.com 

Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/adewumi.oni

Twitter: onadol2010

Do You Want to be Relevant (2)

/ Adewumi Oni / Leave a comment

​We this series yesterday and discussed Skills, Relationships and Attitudes as necessary tools for relevance. Today we will examine two more tools. 

4. Excellent Problem Solving Ability: What you know and how it relates with the matter at hand can only be of help to the extent that you can combine the two to proffer better solutions. Relevant people are problem solvers. They have the knacks for delivering on expectations. If you want to become relevant or stay relevant, you must be a consistent problem solver.
5. Rich network: Who you know and the worth of who you know. Your network actually determine your networth. Your contacts can determine the kind of attention you get as as an employee. You therefore need to maintain your line of contact with your contacts. 

God bless us all. 

Good afternoon! 

Adewumi Oni 

08028395824

09095321147

wumioni@yahoo.com

http://www.adewumioni.com 

Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/adewumi.oni

Twitter: onadol2010

Do You Want to be Relevant? (1)

/ Adewumi Oni / Leave a comment

​​Have you wondered why some names are always mentioned when certain topics or challenges are being discussed? Or bringing it closer home, why do some colleagues attract more attention than others? Or in your neighborhood, why do some neighbours get invited to Community Committees more than others? In a nut shell, why are some people more relevant than others? 
What do we mean by Relevance? Relevance in this context means relation or connection or practical applicability to the matter at hand. It means being useful to the matter at hand. 
How can you become relevant or more relevant? 

1. Sharpen your skills: Be good at what you do. Don’t stay on the periphery of your field, dig deeper than others. Stay on the cutting edge by keeping yourself abreast of latest developments in your field. What you know must also be applicable to the situation at hand. Don’t just know, know what is needed.Nobody jokes with people who know their onions. 

2. Work on your Interpersonal Relations Skills: You need people to recommend you even if you are a guru in your field. You have to cultivate a deliberate and purposeful relationship management skill. Maintain contacts with your acquaintances. Exchange ideas with them. Reach out to them on personal basis. Connect with them. Don’t be a snub. Be friendly. It is true that your works will speak for you, but people will enunciate the sound of your works. 

3. Have the right attitude: It is often said that your attitude determines your altitude. A good attitude is like a magnet, it will always attract people into your life. No matter how good you are at your job, if you have a bad attitude, you will be treated like an outcast. Be positive minded. Be courteous. Be an inspiration to others. Don’t lord yourself on people. Don’t be a bully. Be willing to teach others. Attitude is the separator of the best from the best. 

We will continue on this series tomorrow. 

God bless us all. 

Good morning! 

Adewumi Oni 

08028395824

09095321147

wumioni@yahoo.com

http://www.adewumioni.com 

Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/adewumi.oni

Twitter: onadol2010

It Pays You To Let Go

/ Adewumi Oni / Leave a comment

​Letting go of offenses, hurts and old wounds is actually to your own benefit. When you hold someone in your heart, there are a couple of things that happen:

1. Your heart is like the engine for your body. It is like the city center of your body that receives blood through the veins and releases blood through the arteries. Anything held in the heart apart from blood will clog your heart and may lead to heart disease. Unforgiveness leads to ill health eventually. 
2. Your heart is also the residence of the Spirit of God. When you have created a maximum security prison in your heart where you imprison people who have hurt you, what happens is that the Spirit of God is inconvenienced and will take His leave until your heart is empty. When the Spirit of God leaves you, you are cut off from heavenly wisdom which is the key to success and peace. You run with your own wisdom when you refuse to forgive and let go, and there is a limit to human wisdom. You can’t receive anything from God until you forgive those who have hurt you. 
3. When you squeeze your face and put pressure on your heart each time you remember the person who has hurt you, and you renew your vow not to forgive or forget, you are unknowingly suffering yourself, because the other party may be ignorant of your pains or may just not give it any serious thought. You are actually the one in prison, not the person who has offended you. Letting go is therefore, first for your own benefit. 
Many homes, businesses and even nations are in a sordid state because of unforgiveness. Somehow, the deep hurt of the Civil War that almost broke Nigeria apart is yet to be forgiven by both sides, and we are all still suffering from the consequences of this unforgiveness. Several ministries are not experiencing growth as they should because the setman is still holding grudges against some people. Several families are missing out on God’s best because they are yet to forgive those who have offended them. 
May God open our heart of understanding to let go and receive the fresh Grace awaiting us. 
God bless us all. 
Good morning! 
Adewumi Oni 

08028395824

09095321147

wumioni@yahoo.com

http://www.adewumioni.com 

Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/adewumi.oni

Twitter: onadol2010

Letting Go

/ Adewumi Oni / Leave a comment

​We often find ourselves holding on to certain things from our past. It could be relationship gone sour, memory of deceased loved ones, lost opportunities, past mistakes, and other bad experiences. These experiences tie us down and prevent us from seeing new opportunities before and ahead of us. 
We must learn to let go of the past in order to take hold of the present and prepare for the future. You can’t be driving a car and keep looking back, you will suffer an accident sooner or later. If you want to reach your goal, you must learn to let go of the past even when it seems the past holds the best for you. The best is still ahead of you. 
Until you let go, you may not be able to see what lies ahead and you will be missing out on a lot of opportunities. Whatever it is that you are still holding on to in your past which has constituted a poison in your system,you need to let go today. Forgive that person. Forget that relationship. Wipe the memory of that loss away. Begin again. 
God bless us all. 
Good morning! 
Adewumi Oni 

08028395824

09095321147

wumioni@yahoo.com

http://www.adewumioni.com 

Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/adewumi.oni

Twitter: onadol2010

Dealing With Bad Habits (6)

/ Adewumi Oni / 1 Comment

​Medical Remedies : Some habits require medical attention, they may have started out as harmless indulgences but ended up affecting the victim’s body and mind. Drug addicts usually start with small dose and assume they are in control of themselves. Gradually their body become dependent on the drugs and start demanding for bigger dose increasingly, until they become helpless. When it gets to the point of having lost every form of control over the body and mind, medical attention would be needed, usually combined with some therapies, including withdrawal therapy. It is detrimental to begin to apply only spiritual remedy at such stage. Medical treatment must first be administered,  and may be combined with psychological and spiritual remedies, if needed. 

Spiritual Remedies: Spiritual remedies are applicable in all cases but not necessarily as the main form of treatment, it may be as the supporting treatment. Where Spiritual treatment may be the principal treatment is in hereditary cases, because even if you treat psychological or medically, the patient may still revert into the habits because it is in the blood lineage, and it is transferable. The bloodline must therefore be cleansed spiritually through prayers, fasting and meditation on the Word of God. 
Some of these habits sometimes leave permanent damage, and the patient may just have to manage the consequence for the rest of his or her life. It is therefore important to quickly deal with any bad habits in our lives or those of our loved ones. We should avoid becoming ensnared with bad habits by watching the entry points into our life. Some of the entry points are:

1. Our Eyes: See no evil and hear no evil. Be careful with what you watch. Some movies can lure you into habits like masturbating, occultism, lesbianism, homosexualism, drinking, smoking, gambling, etc. Your eyes have strong influence on your mind and what your mind captures is hard to erase. 
2. Our Mouths: Don’t even taste it if you don’t want to be ensnared. Some strong cases of addiction to alcohol started with just a little sip. Same with cigarette, Marijuana, and other stuffs. Put a knife to your throat. Proverbs 23:2.
3. Our Nostrils: Don’t go near where you will perceive the smell of alcohol or cigarettes or hard drugs,  if you know you are hyper sensitive to the smell. Why play with fire? Many destinies have been ruined by these habits, so run from anything that smells like it. 
In conclusion, it is better not be addicted to any bad habit than to be managing the consequences later on, therefore do all you can to avoid indulging in bad habits. 
God bless us all. 
Good morning! 
Adewumi Oni 

08028395824

09095321147

wumioni@yahoo.com

http://www.adewumioni.com 

Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/adewumi.oni

Twitter: onadol2010