Building Better Teams

Why many teams dont work well together

Have you ever wondered why the team that you were on didnt work very well together?

Many teams originally were set up to fail. In sports, you build teams from individuals with best achievements. In business, we hear many times, the sports analogy applied but in most cases it couldnt be farther from reality. In business, teams are seldom picked and mixed together based on the best individuals and their skills. Typically, people wind up on a team based on a range of factors. They were on this team before and it was part of their job description. They were told they had to be on this team. They were added to the team as a reward or worse as punishment! Usually, the leaders of these teams are only symbolic. They are called team leaders in many cases. They are responsible for the team but without real authority. They also are expected to perform their other full time jobs. These types of teams fail.

Build the right team

It is important to build the right team from the start. Take an inventory of the people in your organization. Compile a database based on interviews and surveys. Ask people, which types of roles they feel challenging but also they have the skills for? Which roles best align their abilities and their interests?

Find out who wants to lead and who wants to be leaded?

Ask people, which roles fit the image of the work they most want to do. Part of this inventory process is to understand from each person in the organization what they want to do more of, less of, and how management can assist. As a result of this process, you have a database which contains real input from people. Then when the time comes to put together teams, you are able to review the database and select people who best fit. This is what the best manager does.

Encourage and support

Once the best manager sets up a team, people spend time helping to set vision and clarify goals. Then, the team is free to self-manage and make progress without micro-management. Teams are comprised of people, and they need support and encouragement but not threats, punishment, and rewards. People just want to feel like they are making a contribution. Successful teams go on to complete many winning projects if the upfront structure and ground rules are established.

Promote collaboration, not competition

The Best Manager treats all team members the same way and rewards them equally. The team knows its goals and desired state. The work itself becomes a reward. If the reward must be given it should be equal to all members as a result of the team progress towards common goals. Making individuals on a team compete with one another is the way to increase conflicts. When, instead, people feel that everyone has the same goals and incentives, collaboration is more effective, productivity is higher, and accomplished results are much better.

Set a clear desired state

This is the most important first step for a team. The best manager spends several hours with the entire team communicating the desired state and taking time to ensure all members clearly understand the vision and the path. Without a clear vision, team members will start distracting one another decreasing productivity, and the desired result will not be achieved.

Have better team meetings

Team meetings should be held in two different formats. There should be a regular operational meeting (process meeting) where people give updates and the leader also communicates status and next steps. This type of meetings should be rigorous and structured. Teams also need a second type of meeting. These are mission meetings where the group is either to solve a problem or to create a solution. These meetings should be of a brainstorming type and run in a creative, collaborative way. Teams can break down when there is confusion about expected outcomes.

Rotate leadership

Rotating team leaders on a regular basis is healthy for the team. It also helps everyone to feel vested in the outcome. Plus, when you lead one day and follow another day, you gain new experience and gain new perspectives. Letting people take on leadership roles for the first time will help to build confidence and also be a valuable development activity at the same time. A well structured team will not let new leaders fail knowing that one day they will be asked to lead.

Learning summary and next steps

The best manager designs teams around people. It is an art of combining of what they want to do and where their abilities and interests fit best. As a result, teams will be more successful and reach their desired states more quickly. As a first step, take an inventory of your team. Then, put together the next team based on the experience and not on what you have always done before. You will see new results!

Craig Nathanson