This is the first in a short series that looks at what are the key components that make up a fit and healthy team. I work with a lot of teams and I often ask my clients if they are sure that they have a “real” team. Unfortunately, it is much harder to great any team unless certain conditions exist. Just having people report to the same person is not one of the conditions.
What is a team?
A team is a high performing on-going or temporary task group whose members are actively interdependent and share common performance objectives and are mutually accountable. In basic terms, unless these three elements are present – you don’t have a team:
- Common Goals
- Common Work
- Common Clients
So why do we need teams now more than ever?
- flatter organizations and increased span of control
- complexity of the task and information required
- jobs as we once knew them are gone and replaced by the need for knowledge workers
- changing societal demands for personal growth and development
- rapid change and transition require greater flexibility
Subsequent posts will take a brief look at what are the pieces to the puzzle for a high performing team.
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I believe the great responsible for not having a team is depending on the leader does not respect the differences. Most bosses want their job done as he would, therefore, the employees feel demotivated.
See you soon
Thanks Denise. You are right that often teams can not develop simply because the team leader is not setting the example. I have seen leaders say that they delegate to the team but in fact they are telling what it is that they want done. There is no independent thinking. Naturally when employees do not feel valued for their own skills they bring to the job – why would they be motivated to perform.
There are times when a leader would like to build a stronger team but without some common elements – members will tend to do what they think is best. This may or may not be in the interests of the team as a whole. A good leader can still coach her or his staff to work together.