Issue 6, March/April 2008
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Introduction

Welcome to the March / April edition of our newsletter.

In this edition we explore the themes of cooperation, engagement and conflict. In today's fast-moving business environment, managers need to engage their employees in the process of change. But how? In relation to global teams we look at two ends of the spectrum: how to build cooperation and celebrate team successes, and how to manage conflict effectively.

Geographically, we take a trip around the world, with the launch of four new country profiles for the TMA Country Navigator.

We hope you enjoy the newsletter! As ever, we are keen to hear your comments and feedback. Please write to us at newsletter@tmaworld.com

Poll

What is the most important success factor for a global team?

	A shared purpose, principles and priorities
	Trusting relationships over space and time
	Common working methods with clear roles & responsibilities
	Ability to leverage knowledge and skills
	Effective creation and sharing of electronic information
	Ability to leverage cultural differences to create value

In this issue

Shut Up and Talk To Me!

Creating engagement across the business is essential to the successful implementation of any change initiative. But do most managers have the self-awareness and communication skills to achieve this? Terence Brake recounts his experience of working recently with a team of international managers and reflects on when managers should talk, and when they should listen.

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Celebration Time, Come On!

Effective cooperation is vital for the success of any team, and all the more so if team members are separated by geography, time zones and cultural backgrounds. We provide some guidelines on how you can foster that cooperation within your team.

We also look at how to manage the happy moments - how can you celebrate team success in a 'virtual' working environment?

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Country Navigator: New Profiles for Denmark, Hungary, Turkey & Venezuela

TMA's Country Navigator cultural profiling and country information e-tool continues to expand with four new country profiles, and more on the way. Click here for an interactive online demonstration of the Country Navigator, or click here to learn about the 10 essential things you need to know when doing business in Hungary. Plus download a free copy of TMA's Hungary Mindset Map - an overview of the key factors that shape and influence the Hungarian mindset.

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Conflict in Virtual Teams: Prevention Is The Best Cure

Conflict in teams working virtually tends to be hidden or amplified. Distance can aggravate even minor conflicts, so anticipating and dealing with conflict as early as possible is crucial. In this article we look at likely sources of conflicts in virtual teams, distinguish between destructive and constructive conflict, and finally examine how to manage conflict constructively.

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