Effective teams possess a clear purpose and develop a process of
working together that directs team members' energy towards achieving
the team's purpose. Effective teams enable each member to contribute
all of his or her resources towards reaching the objective. Effective
team leadership is especially important while the initial teambuilding
processes occurring, but successful leaders are successful in sharing
leadership responsibility among team members when it is appropriate.
Effective teams exhibit several characteristics. Open communication
amongst the team members is the underlying foundation for establishing
an effective team. Effective teams develop their goals through team
interaction and agreement. This consensus building helps ensure that
every team member is willing to work towards the goals. All of the
members of the team will then choose to participate actively in the
team's work. It is only when all of the members of the team are
willing to work together towards a common goal that the highest
productivity will be achieved. Team members need to have clearly
defined roles and be able to influence the team's agenda when
appropriate.
Management of conflict and problems is also critical. In effective
teams, constructive feedback is readily exchanged between team
members. Conflict is not suppressed, but is instead expressed to the
team and managed by the team. Individual team member's abilities are
recognized and employed by the team whenever it is appropriate to do
so. Team members are encouraged to be creative and to take reasonable
risks. Mistakes are used as learning tools rather than as reasons for
punishment. By not allowing conflict to fester, team members develop
a positive view of change and are better able to remain patient with
one another when differences of opinion arise. It is important that
team members trust one another.
Effective teams also receive the support of upper management. If the
upper management and the team do not agree on the team's goals, or the
appropriate resources are not provided, then the team is unlikely to
be viewed as effective even if it is functioning well internally.
Measuring the team's performance toward its goals is also essential
for team effectiveness. Periodically assessing the team's
accomplishments helps to keep it focused and identifies areas
requiring improvement.
Effective teams do not come about by accident. Team leaders need to
be able to identify what the team's composition should be and then to
build those individuals into a team. Team members should be selected
based on their willingness to work as part of a team and because they
bring needed resources. Creating a shared vision of what the team is
to achieve plays a critical role in the teambuilding process. And,
although team leaders will encourage team members to take on
leadership roles when appropriate, effective teams are led by people
who can give the team direction when it gets off-track and make final
determinations when disagreements arise that the team members cannot
resolve themselves.
Through leadership, selection of team members, and communication,
effective teams can accomplish amazing things. |
