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Creating a successful team takes more than throwing a group of people together and saying "Now you're a team. Let's get to work." Teamwork doesn't happen automatically. In fact, when a new team first comes together, there's often a period of uncertainty, mistrust, and conflict. What happens during this critical time can make or break not only the team's ability to meet its goal but also the team itself.If your organization decides to take a team approach, it's crucial for you, the team leader, to make the effort to set the stage for success during the Forming phase of team development. The main purpose of this course is to show you how to bring together a group of individuals and turn that group into a true team.But what exactly is a true team? And how does it differ from a regular work group? Well, in a traditional work group, members don't work toward a common purpose. Each person is accountable only to himself and doesn't depend on the rest of the group.Now compare this to a team. A true team is typically comprised of a small number of individuals whose skills complement each other. A team works toward the same purpose and goals – this is its reason for being. And members of an effective team are open and honest. They feel like they can count on each other.Now that you know what a team is, consider some of the benefits of taking a team approach: you'll have group buy-in, with the result being more motivation and better performance, you'll be able to pool expertise and resources, and you'll find that the team has better ideas and problem-solving abilities than an isolated employee.Leading a team is like being the captain of a ship. You'll have to ride the calms and storms, but with the support of your crew, you'll reach your final destination. This course will focus on the formation phase of team development, and will provide you with strategies to ensure your team succeeds in spite of the storms you encounter.As team leader, one of the most important jobs you will perform is building the foundation for an effective, high performance team.Ultimately, it's the team leader who's responsible for team success. The sooner you can get your team working as a united force, the better its chances of success. As team leader, you need to concentrate on building a productive and effective team early in the team-building stage.Team leaders who fail to put the work in up front to build a strong, productive team run the risk of developing a team hampered by a lack of direction, internal conflict, and misassigned team roles. All of which can result in the team failing to achieve its objectives.Three areas are particularly important when building an effective team. It's important to establish team goals in the early stages of team building to set the team's direction. The team leader's job is to provide the leadership necessary to establish team goals. However, this is a team activity and must involve all team members.Assigning the right people to the right roles is important because, when done correctly, the effectiveness of the team increases. Team leaders are responsible for assigning roles, and they must assign the right people to the right roles based on ability. This helps ensure the team achieves its objectives or goals.Establishing effective guidelines for the conduct of the team is important because it helps the team work together. Team leaders have to take a proactive role in working with the team to define guidelines for conduct so that everyone is certain about how to behave, communicate, and work together.The team leader plays the key role in building a successful team. As you perform the role of team leader, work with your entire team to establish and agree on the team's goals, roles, and guidelines for conduct. Doing so will greatly improve your chances for success.

Do you sometimes feel that your professional style is too passive, too hesitant and weak? Or do you find yourself acting aggressively toward others in the workplace, being too critical and overbearing?Do you wonder if there is another professional business style that might be right for you? The answer may well be yes. Many people find that an assertive style meets their professional needs. Others around you appreciate this solid, constructive approach. And you can feel in control using this style to deal with co-workers or even manage or supervise employees. The assertive style can be your win-win style.Try the role of an assertive business professional. It can be the right style for you. You can find yourself acting proactively and dealing with others responsibly. What a great feeling. The good news is that you don't have to achieve this role by yourself. This course will give you tools to help. You will learn about: becoming an assertive professional, proactive listening strategies, constructive feedback strategies.Do you sometimes feel trapped in the way you commonly act at work? Or even angry at others who act as though you're a nonentity or someone to be avoided?How would you like to take the lead in developing the assertive professional style you've dreamed of having, one that lets you avoid traps and anger? It's up to you to decide when you want to take charge of your life.You've reached the right conclusion when you decide that you're the best person to take the lead in developing your professional style. You can blossom as an individual when your actions form the foundation for an assertive style that you can build on and strengthen.Your self-confidence will increase as you use the course's methods and guidelines to change your professional style to the style you've dreamed of having.If you have an optimistic attitude, your efforts to develop your style can be both personally and professionally rewarding. The material covered in this course will give you the tools to help yourself. The three lessons are: Developing Your Assertive Style, Self-development Strategies, and Assertive Interactions.

Principles of Accounting is designed to meet the scope and sequence requirements of a two-semester accounting course that covers the fundamentals of financial and managerial accounting. Due to the comprehensive nature of the material, we are offering the book in two volumes. This book is specifically designed to appeal to both accounting and non-accounting majors, exposing students to the core concepts of accounting in familiar ways to build a strong foundation that can be applied across business fields. Each chapter opens with a relatable real-life scenario for today’s college student. Thoughtfully designed examples are presented throughout each chapter, allowing students to build on emerging accounting knowledge. Concepts are further reinforced through applicable connections to more detailed business processes. Students are immersed in the “why” as well as the “how” aspects of accounting in order to reinforce concepts and promote comprehension over rote memorization.

Debt is pervasive all across society. We have all heard stories of someone who is currently suffering from it, and we all fear falling victim to its harmful embrace. Yet for many, guarding yourself against this evil seems difficult, if not impossible.In this book, I intend to teach you the knowledge and strategies that are necessary in order to not only guard against debt, but utterly destroy it if you have already fallen victim to it. Whether you only have a small amount and are looking to never deal with debt again, or you have an amount so large, escaping it seems impossible, this book contains the knowledge that you need in order to avoid and get rid of debt.