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.

CONTINUED ...

Invariably, when we conduct an assessment of a team to determine where it stands in terms of the above productivity and positivity elements it is very common to see a range of opinions derived from the many perspectives represented by the various members or ‘voices’ within that team.  The resulting reality of their situation represented by the ‘average’ rating that any one element receives becomes the starting point for improving the situation.  Thus, it quickly becomes obvious to that team where they need to focus in order to raise the presence of any individual element.  Given that the team has identified what is lacking within any and all areas and in doing so, can rather easily create the steps that they can and need to effectively take to raise the existence of that element.  Often times by focusing on one particular element and improving it, there is also positive impact within another area. 

As an example, imagine a situation where it is determined there is a lack of respect between team members.  We realize that some of that stems from the fact that although we’re on the same team, we have recently expanded the group and brought in new people who are generally unknown in terms of their background and experience. Thus, it is difficult for others to respect the presence of these newer additions.  By taking the steps to make every team member familiar with one another in terms of their respective backgrounds and experience most often the respect is also increased because of the value one now recognizes.  And now that one has increased respect there is a greater inclination to trust them, want to work with them (camaraderie), enter into a solid decision making process and value the diversity of their opinions – all because I have gained a newfound respect and appreciation for a leadership team member.

As the leader, taking a litmus test of your team is good practice with regularity because like so many other things, movement toward the optimum situation takes effort over time.  If …

• The decision making within the team seems often laborious and without clear and crisp direction …
• Communication is too often reduced to some form of ‘infighting’ among members resulting in feelings of frustration and disgust …
• There is a tendency to repeat errors made in the past through the team’s decisions …
• The team seems to lack a process around making final decisions …
• Certain team members are viewed as difficult and ornery through their ‘different’ and often negative views …

... then you have some indicators that you’re lacking in some key elements that account for the most successful and productive teams.  Especially in times like we’re in today … when we need to increase productivity and effectiveness accompanying a business need to conserve costs to operate as efficiently and effectively as possible, it behooves every organization to take the steps to maximize the ability for all of their teams – from top level leadership to departmental and project teams.

                                                                               The End

 

The video featured in this edition of BOLD Print will at first appear to be about dancing.  However, viewed through the perspective of the most successful teams, it demonstrates the strength, achievement and success that real team-man-ship can bring.  Maybe some of these ‘steps’ are ones you’ll want to add or enhance within your organization.

Achievements of Real Team-man-ship

Written by The Third Zoone Staff

Viewed through the perspective of the most successful teams, this video demonstrates the strength, achievement and success that real team-man-ship can bring.  Maybe some of these ‘steps’ are ones you’ll want to add or enhance within your organization. (click on image to view video)

Read more...