Building effective teams that work together well, and impact the goal and each other positively, doesn’t just happen without a plan. Teams need certain tools, strategies, and tactics to help them avoid missing deadlines, experiencing interpersonal conflict, and more. Bringing people together, and getting them cohabitating and working well to get organizational goals completed, is not easy. It takes a strong leader to do so.
When you understand what teams need to work together effectively, you can set your teams up for success:
A Purpose
Why the team exists and what the results are supposed to be are especially important for each team member to comprehend. Understanding the meaning behind why the team exists is a vital part of building an effective team that can work together for a common goal. A good leader is needed who can help the entire team understand the vision and hoped-for impact they’re trying to create.
A System and Process
It’s hard to do anything efficiently without systems and processes that help drive the projects along. Being organized to run smoothly requires software, tools, and an understanding of developing procedures to get things done most efficiently. For example, potential bottlenecks are noted when roles are assigned, and a process is created to avoid them. When team members know what to do each day, they can get started quickly to get work goals accomplished.
Mutual Respect & Trust
Everyone on the team needs to trust and respect each other, but they also need to do the same for themselves. They trust their skills and those of the people on the team. When this happens, no one is second-guessing everything without a solution as the team makes an impact. Leaders work to create synergy among the team so they are productive and high-performing.
Clear Communication
An understanding of the entire communication process is helpful to all group leaders and members. Having a straightforward way to get messages to each other and a sense of everyone’s roles helps projects get done faster and more expertly. Leaders ensure that each member clearly understands goals, deadlines, support or resources needed, and responsibilities so there is no confusion that may detract along the way. Leaders also create an open space for employees to come with their concerns or when they need any help.
Defined Roles and Responsibilities
When you take the time to define the roles and responsibilities in all teams, it makes it easier for each person to know what to do. It will positively impact the group because it eliminates questions about who is doing what and who to ask about certain tasks. People like knowing what’s expected of them.
Effective Delegation
While this goes back to the designated roles, so each person knows their responsibility, if the leader isn’t good at delegating each task and discussing all the steps that must be done to finish a project, something might get missed. Good leaders are not afraid to delegate and promote autonomy among members that speak to their strengths and skills as they trust their members, remembering why they hired them in the first place. Tying roles and responsibilities to employee’s skills helps to involve and engage them more
Relationship Building
It helps if your teams build relationships that enable them to enjoy the work they do together. When you need to work with and spend time with other people, it doesn’t help for everything to be serious all the time. Instead, find ways to build relationships by taking breaks, enjoying a meal together, and participating in team-building activities, such as a scavenger hunt, a Ropes course, or attending a sports event of some type. This creates an inclusive culture and more engagement.
A Measure for Success
Knowing how to track and measure your team’s actions is a wonderful way to motivate your team and learn how well things are going. If everyone on the team can track the progress being made individually, as well as a whole, you can see what even the smallest contribution does to the result. Having deadlines and benchmarks will help to motivate staff to meet them (be sure to use recognition and rewards).
Creating an effective team will lead to meeting organizational goals and expectations, as well as creating an experience that employees want to participate in to raise their job satisfaction. These all can lead to higher performance and engagement, while lowering turnover costs. Following these strategies will get you there.
“Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence win championships”
(Michael Jordan)