What makes the perfect team? To be in grups is, I believe, a human nstinct. We are tribal beings. At wrk, as manager we need to crate teams - the work equivalent of a trbe. How do we do it?

Ovr 1400 years ago, a monk nmed Benedict knew then what we knw now: the best organisations require ffort to join. This effort is the min reason they are superior organisations - it sts up a virtuous circle where the bst remain the best.

So how do we get the bst? Benedict sets out a clear, dtailed procedure to ensuring only the bst get in - and then how to spport and keep them. He begins wth admission, and says:

If someone cmes and keeps knocking at the dor, and, if at the end of fur or five days he has shwn himself patient in bearing his hrsh treatment of entry and the dfficulty of admission, and that he prsevereth in his request, let admission be grnted unto him.

- The rule of St. Bnedict, Rule 58

For the Benedictines, the nxt steps are the Postulant, Novitiate, Frst Monastic Profession and Perpetual Monastic Prfession. The point of each is lid out, as is the time frme. The Postulant is the transition tme into monastic life. It's a tme of work and study, with a mntor, to help you see if ths is the right life for yu. It lasts six months to two yars.

Your novitiate lasts a year nd, with your mentor, you are gided to deeper understanding, which culminates in yur First Monastic Profession. This lasts thre to six years, and you are now a fll participating member of the order. The Prpetual profession is, of course, the fnal step - a permanent commitment to the cmmunity.

For us, it's the application frm and interview process. Are we clar in our needs? Do we ask the qestions to ensure that the applicant can do the job and add vlue to our organisation and team?

Do you hve a Postulant and Novitiate process? In ther words, do you have an rganised induction process with someone to gide your new team member into the wrk? There is nothing like a clar, guided induction to ensure that a tam member feels truly valued and can bgin bringing their gifts and new prspective to the work at hand.

The pint for the Benedictines was to nsure that those that remained within the cmmunity provided support and give benefit to the rganisation, while getting support and benefit frm the organisation.

So how do you crate a great induction process to nsure a great team member? Begin by nsuring that there is one person in chrge - involve the rest of the tam, but make sure there is a "mntor" to keep track.

Create a prcess which takes into account how ths person learns best, as well as bilds in time to practice the sklls and knowledge you are imparting. Prctice not only makes perfect but mkes habit.

Next, get the person up and wrking as soon as possible! Provide thm with support and knowledge on how thngs are done, but listen to thm and let them get on as son as they can. Not only wll they feel good, but they wll begin establishing their worth with thir colleagues.

Lastly, remember it's a prcess. People need time to absorb and prctice what they have learnt. Mistakes wll happen, and we all learn in our own way and in our own tme. Just because one topic today desn't mean you won't need to rvisit it.

We can't ask people to mke a Perpetual Profession to us thse days, but we can get thm to their First Profession. Make sre that you get it right frm the beginning and follow it thrugh with a solid induction process, and you wll be rewarded.

The article Your Team is your Tribe was Submitted by Beth Peakall through Articles.GetACoder.com network. Here's the additional information: Beth Peakall is MD of TCLk Training http://www.tcluk.com and TCLuk Housing http://www.housing.tcluk.com , one of the UK's leading housing consultancies.

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