What makes a work team more or less successfully regardless of type?  What accounts for some teams being able to really ‘click’ from start to finish and others that appear to slowly and often painfully, prod through their tasks?  There are numerous theories that address these questions and there’s one in particular to which we subscribe.  It is called the Team Diagnostic Assessment developed by an organization that has conducted a great deal of research in the area of team effectiveness.  It’s one that we have often utilized in our work with teams and each time, we validate its’ truth.

A team’s effectiveness and success is closely tied to factors that define the extent to which two key elements exist within the team … those related to both productivity and positivity. Here’s some insight to what these are and how they are interrelated.

The most obvious things that come to mind when thinking about and anticipating team effectiveness  are those that contribute to the productivity of that team.  Here are the key ones:

Alignment: There is a sense of common mission and purpose.  Cooperation, cohesion and interdependence are valued. The team collectively owns their results.

Goals & Strategies: The team has clear, challenging objectives; there is alignment on strategies and priorities. Objectives are linked to recognition, rewards and compensation. The team is highly resilient and not easily defeated in their goals.

Accountability: There is clarity of roles and responsibilities with high follow through. When problems arise the team responds. Team members actively hold each other accountable for team agreements.

Proactive: Change is embraced and seen as vital to this team and to the larger organization. The team is nimble and flexible in addressing opportunities for change, responding positively and creatively.

Decision Making: The team has clear and efficient decision making processes, which have proven effective over time.

Resources: The team clearly requests, obtains and manages adequate resources and training to meet its objectives. There is sufficient expertise to accomplish the team’s objectives. There is an atmosphere of “win-win” rather than “zero sum game.”

We’re confident that most all of us can easily understand the ‘productivity’ elements and how they can contribute or detract from a teams success.  We find, however, that we tend to overlook the importance and value of that ‘other’ group of elements related to the ‘positivity’ within the team. 

Positivity strengths focus on the interrelationships between team members and the spirit or tone of the team as a working system. The seven strengths in the Team Diagnostic model are drawn from a number of research sources including Emotional Intelligence, Positive Psychology, and academic research into relationships that work.  These include:

Trust: It is safe on this team to speak one's mind openly. Members can count on each other; they are reliable. The team does not operate in a fear-based environment.

Respect: There is an atmosphere of mutual respect and genuine positive regard. Contempt and hostility are not tolerated. Members of the team are empowered to contribute.

Camaraderie: There is a strong sense of belonging to the team. The team celebrates and acknowledges accomplishments. Empathy, playfulness and humor are present.

Communication: Clear and efficient communication is valued over less direct approaches such as politicizing, gossiping, or stonewalling.

Constructive Interaction: Conflict is seen as providing an opportunity for discovery, growth and creativity. The team avoids criticizing, defensiveness and finger pointing. Team members give and receive feedback well.

Values Diversity: The team is open-minded and values differences in ideas, backgrounds, perspectives, personalities, approaches and lifestyles. Diversity is considered vital.

Optimism: The team has an inspiring shared vision. They are enthusiastic, forward looking and appreciative of each other. There are low levels of cynicism, pessimism, helplessness, hopelessness or dwelling in the past.