What Makes a Successful Team Builder?

Successful teams accomplish more and argue less. Members work well together and understand each other's individual strengths. Successful teams win games, excel at work, win elections and support each other. Building a successful team, then, requires experience, motivation and ingenuity.

Significance

The better people are at team building, the more successful they tend to be personally. Learning to build strong teams can serve as a tremendous career boost. Likewise, successful teams require less supervision and work, and they produce better results. All in all, people who can build successful teams earn a lot of credit for the work of their team.

Time Frame

Great teams aren't built overnight. Depending on the size and mission of the team, it might take a few weeks to a few years to achieve success. Coaches brought in to revamp losing sports team might have to weather several losing seasons before their work pays off, whereas leaders who build a work team might only require a few meetings to get the group on the same page.

Types

Successful team builders can work in sports, business, government, community positions, coaching, sales, teaching and other industries. Strong team-building skills are similar throughout various professions.

Features

People who succeed at team building must be great communicators. Likewise, successful team builders have vision and leadership skills. They listen to feedback from others, but also know how to handle an unwieldy group. Successful team builders are organized, trusting and disciplined. Finally, they are willing to stand up for their teams.

Misconceptions

Strong team builders aren't necessarily outgoing, loud and extroverted. Famous football coach Tony Dungy was known for never yelling at his teams, yet he helped the Indianapolis Colts win a Super Bowl with his quiet yet effective coaching style. Good team builders can communicate softly and still say a lot.

References

• Entrepreneur's Forum: 5 Steps to Building a Successful Team
• Altika: On Building a Successful Team