How do YOU team?

Dr. Janice Presser and Teamability Profiled on Keystone Edge

Fri, 19 Apr 2013 12:07:18 -0400

From the beginning of her professional career, Janice Presser had an intense desire to learn what really happens when people team up. She believes that when that process is optimized, good things happen that go well beyond the workplace.

When she met Dr. Jack Gerber, a fellow behavioral scientist with an interest in applying physical science concepts to the measurement of human interaction, an entrepreneurial team was made.

They began in 1984 with an in-depth analysis of anything related to intelligence testing, personality traits tests, values tests and other psychometric methods. They found no instruments designed specifically to measure ‘teaming.’ They spent the next 25 years developing, testing and validating in the field the critical metrics of teaming, launching The Gabriel Institute as a vehicle for creating a technology of teaming that would operate as a web app.

The five-person company recently passed the 150-customer milestone at the end of last year and are adding them now at a clip of eight per month, with hopes of achieving profitability later this year.

What was the biggest challenge in getting The Gabriel Institute off the ground?

Jack had no business experience, and mine was limited to having been president of a family-owned manufacturing company, as well as running a professional consulting practice. But I had an American Express card, faith in what we were being called upon to do, and the energy and willingness to do whatever it would take to make this vision a reality.

How is The Gabriel Institute growing (revenue, staff, etc)?

We’re lucky in that business volume can grow a lot before we will need to hire many more people. We used our own technology and its related management methods to identify the ‘missing pieces’ on our team. This enabled us to recognize the precise fit of Mark Talaba (our EVP) and two young people who had been working as interns. We were very proud the day we granted them membership in the LLC and made them owners. They repay us every day with dedication and flexibility, and they manage all of our client and partner-facing activities and myriad other details.

What resources did you take advantage of to grow The Gabriel Institute?

We have the most wonderful banking relationship with Lynn Ozer of Susquehanna Bank. We had heard her described as the Queen of SBA Lending, and we totally agree. Because Lynn took the time to fully understand our business and its potential, she was able to provide more than an SBA application. Her guidance through the process and her advocacy really helped. Not only that, the people in her support staff are amazing.

We also launched an open-ended ‘friends & family’ fundraise which has brought us nine investors to date. Based on average investment size thus far, the offering will probably top out at 15 investors. Most of them started with us as users of Teamability, and after seeing the results, they approached us about acquiring equity. These relationships have been terrific, because they are tremendously supportive partners, and are actively advocating for us in the markets where they operate.

And we recently had a small, successful crowdfunding campaign which was profiled on Forbes.com.

What’s the biggest challenge you’ve overcome, personally or professionally?

I had come through many challenges in the past, but when you start a business at 55, getting perspective is a lot easier. And when you have partners who are great at doing the things you don’t personally do well, you just give it over to them. It takes great mutual trust, respect, and faith that the team will prosper. Once you’re there, the whole process is self-renewing.

But looking back, my biggest challenge consisted of maintaining focus and making steady progress on this mission, as my personal and working life went through some pretty wild changes. That’s why, without Jack (Dr. Gerber) as my collaborator, I don’t think I could have done this. I suppose he might say the same about me, and there’s a sort of rightness about that. As soon as you have two people, you have ‘teaming’, and it took some extraordinary teamwork to create Teamability.

Talk about the moment where you knew you made the right decision in starting this company?

I never thought I was wrong to start the company, but since the commercial launch of the product late in 2009, I have had a succession of ‘moments’ when it felt more and more ‘right’. The launch itself comes to mind first, followed closely by each of the commitments made by our ‘family’ of investors. But the biggest of all was the time in mid-2012 when be began calling our technology of teaming “Teamability.” That’s when I knew we could not miss, and within a matter of weeks, TGI moved to a whole new level of activity and growth. Receiving U.S. Trademark recognition for Teamability this year was the icing on the cake.

Where does your region need to improve in terms of support for entrepreneurs?

Entrepreneurs often have brilliant innovative ideas for improving the environment and the general quality of life. Unfortunately, in Philadelphia and the surrounding region there are multiple layers organizations and agencies with overlapping missions and responsibilities. Consequently, attempts to be heard, or to drive a change for the better tend to get lost in the shuffle. It’s frustrating and a waste of effort, and entrepreneurs can’t afford to waste their time.

But this may be changing. I recently attended the first meeting of the regional branch of CleanTech Open, which is a national organization dedicated to furthering the interests of inventors, entrepreneurs, and entities that are bringing green technologies to market. Many good things were said about Philadelphia’s commitment to innovation and positive change, including better coordination of agencies and resources, so I hope that is actually what happens.

What’s the big differentiator for The Gabriel Institute?

What makes us different isn’t so much about TGI, but rather, about our product. On the surface, people tend to confuse it with things like IQ or EQ tests, personality traits tests, and other familiar tools. In reality, Teamability is not an adaptation or ‘new version’ of any of those. It is completely new and highly sophisticated technology that was engineered to elicit and identify teaming behaviors in a holistic way.

We’re not saying that Teamability is a replacement for other methods. Just that if adds new information that is important to the overall understanding of a candidate for hire or promotion, or of people who are being selected for a team with a specific mission. And because the technology that underlies Teamability is fundamentally about the quality of team interaction, a Teamability report also provides highly relevant and useful information on developing, managing, and motivating both individuals and teams.

What’s next for The Gabriel Institute? Any new products/services, focus or expansion?

I’m happiest when I’m inventing, so I have a lot of sandboxes for experimentation. Our next product will be an entrepreneurs’ version of Teamability. After that, we’ll release something that can identify the right person for a specific selling situation. That’s needed because there are many different types of ‘selling’ challenges, and succeeding at one doesn’t mean you’ll necessarily be good at others. Beyond that, well, I have to respect the wishes of my team and just say that there are ‘next big things’ coming that can make Teamability very useful, and exciting, outside of the business world.

Joe Petrucci, KeystoneEdge.com

Happy Thursday! Take a moment out of your work day to appreciate...

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 09:57:22 -0400

Happy Thursday! Take a moment out of your work day to appreciate and understand how each puzzle piece of your corporation works. When every piece is acknowledged, it makes for a beautiful end result!

Source: BuildingYourTeam.com

Dr. Janice was recently interviewed by Philly Startup Leaders!...

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 11:57:33 -0400

Dr. Janice was recently interviewed by Philly Startup Leaders! Check it out !

Happy April Wisdom Day!

Mon, 08 Apr 2013 09:35:11 -0400

I’m posting this on the second day of April, also known as the day after April Fools Day. You probably opened a few trick emails yesterday and checked to see Google’s infamous prank-of-the-year.

It occurs to me that perhaps the world is out of balance. We all like to have fun, and an April Fools Day fills the bill. But isn’t it odd that we have no official day on which we celebrate wisdom? Why that is, I have no idea, but maybe it’s time to correct the omission.

Having been fooled, we are often made wiser (and not necessarily sadder), so let’s just agree amongst ourselves that April 2nd is April Wisdom Day. And another thing… I think that the correct ratio of wisdom to frivolity is probably 12:1, so let’s follow with May Wisdom Day (which has a nice ring to it), and June, and so on. Who knows? This could propel us all into a happier future!

How to celebrate wisdom? Start by thinking of the special things you know about, or know how to do, that most people don’t. They don’t have to involve world-changing drive, or enormous curated stores of treasure. They just have to be important enough to you to have created or collected them. Now ask yourself:

Do I appreciate myself for having acquired this wisdom?
Have I let it be known that I have access to this wisdom?
Have I shared my accumulated wisdom enough with others?
Have I added something new to my wisdom collection lately?
How do I plan to pass my wisdom on to those who will need it after I am gone?

Just contemplating the answers should tell you something. Things that we assume are commonplace, we often overlook. But gems of wisdom are never ordinary or trite, while pranks often are.

You don’t have to give up any fun you planned for yesterday. But, if you will believe in the intrinsic worth of your own wisdom, you will soon develop a greater appreciation for the wisdom of others, and this will have far more positive impact than even the most creative of April Fools.

Author: Dr. Janice Presser

http://leadershipisateamsport.wordpress.com/

“Whether you have hiring quality problems, or team performance...

Fri, 22 Mar 2013 11:22:00 -0400

“Whether you have hiring quality problems, or team performance problems, or any other people-related issues or challenges, stop paying so much attention to ‘talent,’ and focus on finding the right team-players.” - Mike O’Neill, Preferred Sands CEO

Photo

Fri, 15 Mar 2013 16:17:00 -0400

hashdoc: Get the most out of your LinkedIn profile by following...

Thu, 07 Mar 2013 09:12:04 -0500

hashdoc:

Get the most out of your LinkedIn profile by following the tips in this guide http://buff.ly/YBktdb #linkedin #work

Every team needs a hero, every hero needs a team!

Tue, 26 Feb 2013 14:52:24 -0500

Every team needs a hero, every hero needs a team!

Teammates can do the impossible!

Tue, 19 Feb 2013 15:02:23 -0500

Teammates can do the impossible!

The Team's What Counts: Performance Management in Three Questions

Thu, 14 Feb 2013 10:06:16 -0500

The Team's What Counts: Performance Management in Three Questions:

drjanice:

I hate those yearly review bingo cards where no matter how you score someone it’s never high enough. It’s like living in Lake Wobegon where all the children are above average. Besides, with this system, all the responsibility for improvement falls squarely on the shoulders of the worker, not the…

How to Run a Team that YOU’d Really Want to Work With

Mon, 11 Feb 2013 09:43:48 -0500

How soon we forget what it was like to be a worker! The moment we become management, or worse, executive management, our focus has to shift from doing work to getting work done through other people. That’s when you need a new set of rules for the workplace. Try these on for size:

Make sure your people are aware of what it means to be serving the best interests of your team or organization. Then let them show you, by how they ‘team’, that they ‘get it’.
Be forgiving, even when they make mistakes.
Be merciful when they make big mistakes.
Be compassionate: don’t place them in tempting circumstances.
Be gracious, even to those who don’t return it.
Be slow to anger when people disobey, and be firm but civil when correcting them.
Be abundantly kind and assume people mean well.
Be consistent, and be trustworthy. Never renege on a promise.
When people do something really right, notice it, communicate it directly, and remember it!
Realize that some people are just not up to the hard work of close teamwork, and either find a way to make solitary contributions, or bring in someone who will make life better for the rest of the team.

You won’t be perfect at first, but don’t worry. Imperfection only makes you more believably human. And that, after all, is the kind of organization you really want to run – and work for.

Dr. Janice Presser is CEO of The Gabriel Institute and architect of the underlying technology that powers Teamability™. Her new book, slated for release in 2013, will explore the theoretical and physical foundations of ‘teaming,’ and their profound impact on the structure, development, and leadership of teams.

Dr. Janice Presser, CEO, The Gabriel Institute

The Team's What Counts: Three Leadership Lessons from Sports

Tue, 05 Feb 2013 10:54:15 -0500

The Team's What Counts: Three Leadership Lessons from Sports:

drjanice:

1. You can’t lead the team if you’re not on it.

Soccer star Mia Hamm said, “I am a member of a team, and I rely on the team, I defer to it and sacrifice for it, because the team, not the individual, is the ultimate champion.” True in any sport and especially true on the business playing field….

Puppies team the best!!

Wed, 23 Jan 2013 15:56:29 -0500

Puppies team the best!!

New reports are coming for 2013! We are working hard to improve...

Wed, 16 Jan 2013 14:53:00 -0500

New reports are coming for 2013! We are working hard to improve your Teamability experience.

Learn more at The Gabriel Institute

A hot beverage for a foggy day here in Philadelphia at the...

Mon, 14 Jan 2013 12:24:55 -0500

A hot beverage for a foggy day here in Philadelphia at the Gabriel Institute. Warm up with Teamability!

Is a Master’s Degree Worth It?

Wed, 02 Jan 2013 13:30:43 -0500

There are some obvious “pros” to receiving a Master’s degree, beginning with advanced knowledge in a specific field of study. If you love to learn and have the funds to do so, go for it! If you have grants, scholarships, hit the lottery, or just have the money to be able to continue your education right after an undergraduate degree then you should. However, based on my own conversations with professors and employers, I recommend that you get as much on-the-job training in your chosen field as you can while still in school. If you emerge from a Master’s program with no real work experience it may be more difficult for you to find a job than if you had begun working right after receiving your undergraduate degree.

For certain career fields it is necessary to receive a Master’s degree to be able to work in that specific field. Some examples include social work and college professors. There are also other fields where a Masters degree is not necessary but will definitely improve your pay rate and opportunities for advancement such as nursing, psychology and engineering.

If you find you do not fall into a category that requires a Master’s degree, you have some serious thinking and researching to do before making a choice about post-graduate education. Many professionals suggest finding a job and working for a while before deciding to go back to school. And here is a key point: according to MSN’s personal finance columnist Liz Pulliam Weston, unless you’re becoming a lawyer or a doctor, the payoff from a Master’s degree in fields like liberal arts will only increase overall pay per month by $5. At that rate, the time and cost of the degree is not worth the payoff.

Here’s her opinion:

Associate’s degrees are a slam-dunk. These two-year degrees seem to result in a massive payback compared to their relatively low cost, for a high school graduate.

Ditto, usually, a Bachelor’s degree. Any Bachelor’s degree you get at a public university is likely to pay off handsomely, as well. If you’re attending a private college, though, you might want to steer clear of education degrees.

Some degrees are a step back. Thinking of a Master’s degree in liberal arts or social sciences? Lets hope you in it for the love of learning, because on average there doesn’t seem to be any financial payoff.

Professional degrees rule. There’s a reason why people borrow tons of money to attend law and medical schools. The return for a professional degree can be huge.

by Carla Carire

All the best for this New Year! Do not forget to wish the best...

Mon, 31 Dec 2012 20:01:25 -0500

All the best for this New Year!

Do not forget to wish the best to your team!!!

What do you want to be when you grow up? How to decide!

Fri, 28 Dec 2012 11:30:26 -0500

First Step: Stop freaking out. Yes, we’re in college or getting ready to graduate and we have to decide what we want to do with our lives RIGHT NOW, but we still have time. You have your whole life ahead of you to find what you really want to do. Believe it or not, even after you are sure, you will probably change your mind! Most professionals you meet will tell you that they didn’t choose a major until their junior year, or their post-graduate studies. For many, their occupation now is not even related to what they majored in. When in doubt, always remember you can change your mind.

Second Step: Think about what really, really interests you. If you start your career selection process off by thinking about what will make you the next Bill Gates, then you’ve got the wrong idea. If you aren’t truly interested in your studies, then you won’t work hard on them. You also won’t perform as well as you think you will. Think back to elementary school. You always did best in your favorite subject, right? That’s still true. So discover what you really like and go from there.

Third Step: Narrow it down. Think of choosing a major, graduate program, or job opportunities as a funnel. You dump a lot of stuff in the top and you get a little stuff out. After you have figured out what you are genuinely interested in and good at, create your own image instead of trying to fit yourself into one that may seem ideal, but just isn’t for you.

The best way to conquer career decision frustration is to take advantage of opportunities that come to you. It may not be what you have always dreamed of, or what you envisioned yourself doing, but you never know what an unlikely opportunity might turn into! It could be your long lost dream job, or just a step in a new direction. You won’t know if you don’t try.

by Mia Mack

All the team is here to wish you a Merry Christmas!!!

Tue, 25 Dec 2012 10:02:21 -0500

All the team is here to wish you a Merry Christmas!!!

Surviving “Group-Work”

Sun, 23 Dec 2012 18:06:20 -0500

Upon hearing the term “group-work”, there is a certain feeling that almost all students get.” And it’s not a good one. Sighs are heard in the classroom. Stress begins to rise, and then, a mad dash begins – each person seeking to form or join a team with someone who’s a friend, or with whom they have already worked with in the past. The ultimate worst-case is when the professor declares that he or she will be choosing the teams, and who you will work with is out of your control.

The key to working together successfully is in finding out what each team member has a natural affinity for doing, and putting each person to the right task. Unfortunately, Teamability is new, so very few schools are using it to match people to teams and tasks. This is too bad, because it would make the life of a student so much easier. And let’s face it, students have enough to worry about without having to agonize over the possibility of a group failure. So I have devised a plan of action for every student who must join a team without the opportunity to choose (or even suggest) the other team members.

Get to know your team! Before jumping into a project with strangers you need to know more about them. Ask them questions about what they enjoy doing in school. If they have ever had an amazing teaming experience in the past, have them describe why it was so great.
Figure out what the end result of the project should be, and create a plan to make it happen. For example if you need research, writing and then a final presentation, ask the group which part they would feel most comfortable doing.
Make sure no one person feels overwhelmed. When an individual is overworked, they can feel bitter towards the rest of the team, which could jeopardize the final project and grade. So encourage the group to agree on an atmosphere of honesty: if anyone feels they have too much on their plate, they promise to let the team know.
Finally, stay in communication. At least one team member should take the responsibility to send out a weekly email detailing what has been accomplished and what needs to be done. This will keep everyone on track and focused on the assignment.

Most importantly, though, try to maintain a positive outlook. When a team truly acts as a cohesive unit the experience can be enjoyable and extremely rewarding.

by Carla Carire