Building Effective Teams
Building an effective team
An effective team is a valuable asset
An effective team has the ability to pool its mental, intellectual, emotional and material resources in such a way, that the performance of the whole is greater than the sum of its parts, meaning: that if the members work together well as a team, then, it is possible to get an extraordinarily good performance from a group of people that are individually just, ordinary folk.
On the other hand, if the team is not working well together, then it would be possible to get a terrible performance from a team made up of people who are, individually, very able, but as a team, they mess things up. Example: RBS bank.
- How can you get a great performance from the team?
- How can you stop great people from messing up, when they come together to make a team?
These are good questions.
Here are the answers.
- Ensure that the goal is communicated to every member of the team in clear and specific terms.
- Ensure that the plan is well formed and is communicated to every member of the team, so that everyone is sure what part they play, in the whole.
- Take notice of feedback from those people in the team who are implementing the plan.
- Act immediately if any member of the team is acting in an aggressive, or a lazy, or a dishonest manner, since a poor work atmosphere caused by one person can disrupt the productive performance of the whole team.
- Use positive motivators, such as praise, rewards and appreciation. Avoid the use of negative motivators such as fear, threats, or ridicule.
Let us write a few notes on each one.
1. Ensure that the goal is communicated to every member of the team in clear and specific terms
Teams only exist when there is a common purpose. If the common purpose is not commonly known, then the team will fall apart. Therefore, it is imperative that the leadership management team strive endlessly to communicate the goal; the purpose; the big picture vision, so that everyone in the organisation understands exactly what it is we are trying to do. Failure to do this will mean the team will fall apart.
2. Ensure that the plan is well formed and is communicated to every member of the team so that everyone is sure what part they play in the whole
Not only must the big picture be in the mind of every member of the group, the plan must be well designed and properly communicated. To the degree that it is possible, the maximum amount of information must be made available to each, and every, member of the team so that they all know exactly what is expected of them, and why it is expected of them.
Failure to do this will cause a failure of motivation.
3. Take notice of feedback from those people in the team who are implementing the plan
Since the plan is written by one set of people; but is implemented by a different set of people, there must be a free flow of feedback information from the "front line troops" to the managers back at HQ.
The feedback comes in two flavours. Bitter and sweet. Positive and negative.
- Positive feedback is when the workers can see the current plan is working well.
- Negative feedback is when the workers can see the current plan is not working well.
The point is this:
- Good teams develop a good flow of information up and down the hierarchy, between the managers and the workers, that allows negative feedback to be used constructively to improve the plan of action.
- Poor teams don't use negative feedback very well. And thus they repeat last weeks mistakes, this week. And they will repeat the same mistake again next week and the week after. Eventually the whole enterprise fails due to a lack of communication.
Don't let this be your fate.
Open up the lines of communication and take negative feedback from the team, seriously.
4. Act immediately if any member of the team is acting in an aggressive or lazy or dishonest manner, since a poor work atmosphere caused by one person can disrupt the productive performance of the whole team
All good teams rely on the honesty and good character of the members. If the team has Blaggards in its ranks, then to that degree, it is flawed. And it will fail.
Let us define a Blaggard, as any member of the group who acts in ways that are:
- Physically or verbally aggressive.
- Lazy. Bone idle.
- Dishonest. (Thieving or lying).
No organisation can survive for long if it is morally flawed.
To the degree to which it is bad, is the degree to which its days are numbered. Eventually the customers will realise something is wrong. Example: Enron.
5. Use positive motivators, such as praise, rewards and appreciation. Avoid the use of negative motivators such as fear, threats, or ridicule.
It is possible to motivate through positive motivators. They are: money, praise, appreciation, and opportunity for achievement.
It is possible to motivate people with threats, fear, punishment and ridicule. But don't do it this way. It makes for a poor atmosphere and the manager that does it will end up with a failing team.
Use positive motivators more than you do use the negative motivators.
Here are the answers.
- Ensure that the goal is communicated to every member of the team in clear and specific terms.
- Ensure that the plan is well formed and is communicated to every member of the team.
- Take notice of feedback from those people in the team who are implementing the plan.
- Act immediately if any member of the team is acting in an aggressive or a lazy or a dishonest manner.
Use positive motivators, such as praise, rewards and appreciation.
You can use these tips to develop a good team.
Please follow this link to our team building training course
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Definition: Effective team
In business, an effective team is a team that passes four tests: everyone knows one clear goal; each member follows a set plan and role; the group swaps feedback up and down and adjusts fast; and it keeps a positive, respectful mood by praising good work and fixing bad behaviour at once.
Show CG4D Definition
- Shares one clear, specific goal understood by all members
- Works to a well-structured plan with roles clearly set
- Maintains open two-way feedback and adapts quickly
- Holds a positive, respectful culture by praising good work and correcting poor conduct immediately
Article Summary
Give the team one clear goal, share a solid plan, listen to front line feedback, fix poor conduct at once and praise good work; follow these five rules and even average people will join forces to produce results no single star could match.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some questions that frequently get asked about this topic during our training sessions.
What is the first step to turn a group into an effective team?
Why must every team member understand the plan?
How should leaders handle negative feedback from front line staff?
What behaviour can quickly harm team morale and output?
Which motivators work best for long-term team performance?
Can a team of talented people still fail?
How does open two-way communication improve team results?
Thought of something that's not been answered? Ask Us Today!
Did You Know: Key Statistics
Gallup's 2023 State of the Global Workplace study shows that firms with engaged teams earn 23% higher profit and 18% higher output than those with low engagement. The Project Management Institute's 2020 Pulse of the Profession report states that weak communication is a root cause in 30% of project failures.About the Author: Chris Farmer
Chris Farmer is the founder of the Corporate Coach Group and has many years' experience in training leaders and managers, in both the public and private sectors, to achieve their organisational goals, especially during tough economic times. He is also well aware of the disciplines and problems associated with running a business.
Over the years, Chris has designed and delivered thousands of training programmes and has coached and motivated many management teams, groups and individuals. His training programmes are both structured and clear, designed to help delegates organise their thinking and, wherever necessary, to improve their techniques and skills.
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