Effective Team Building
An effective team is like a regatta skull crew---everyone rows in harmony toward a common goal. Easier said than done, right? Functional teams don't just happen overnight or on their own. It takes time, planning, strategy and benchmarking to accrue synergies from well-performing teams. It's more than worth the effort. Productive teams not only shore up organizational productivity, they also fire up each other in a race to innovate and develop the smartest products and processes. What is the secret to effective team building? Read on.
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Trust
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In "The Neurobiology of Trust" (see References), scientist Paul J. Zak wrote about a study he co-conducted that revealed that one of the strongest predictors of a nation's wealth is trust. He wrote: "Our model showed that societies with low levels (of trust) are poor because the inhabitants undertake too few of the long-term investments that create jobs and raise incomes. Such investments depend on mutual trust that both sides will fulfill their contractual obligations."
If trust can make or break the wealth of nations, surely it can make or break a company's profitability and growth. That's why the 't' in team stands for trust. Ever played the trust game where you fall backward and your colleague catches you, and vice versa? Team players function best when they know that their colleagues---and bosses---have their back; that no one is going to backstab, take credit for another's work, put down teammates and divide the group with petty politics.
Respect
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Respect is the glue that holds a team together. This starts with basic respect between one human being and another, and includes respect for differences brought to the table on the basis of gender, age, culture, ethnicity/race, education, professional experience, work-style and skill sets.
The University of California's (San Francisco) internal guide to managing its human resources lists the need for people to respect the ideas of others (see References). According to the guide: "Consider each employee's ideas as valuable. Remember that there is no such thing as a stupid idea."
Functioning teams always have a strong negotiator, mediator or team leader to thread diverse perspectives into the team's---and therefore the company's---advantage. -
Communication
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Nothing gets done without effective communication. More than anything, individuals want to be heard by their peers and bosses. Some companies have employees who are in different locations---so everyone must learn the cultural language and work style of international teams.
First, communication channels should be open between organizational hierarchies. Second, expectations and team objectives must be clearly communicated and metrics must be benchmarked. Third, everyone must be on board on the process, and should clearly know who reports to whom and who is accountable for what.
Cooperation
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Despite individual differences, a team is like the human body and must work cooperatively to achieve results. In her book "Team Building That Gets Results" (see References), Linda Diamond wrote: "The advantage of a team is that it is a mesh of personality types, talents and experiences. While the differences present challenges, they also present a wide array of solutions."
Managers who know the art of managing relationships know how to soothe bruised egos, placate aggressive teammates, mediate disputes, encourage quiet and uncertain individuals to speak up and participate, and convince everyone why working together is a smart idea not just for the team but also for each individual member.
Common Vision
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Every team member must be invested in the team's goals. Nobody gets anywhere by rowing a boat in different directions. It takes leadership to unite a team under a common objective, and it takes strong vision to inspire and motivate people.
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