‘Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence wins championships’ Michael Jordan
If you look up for ‘Team Work’ in a dictionary you will find a definition similar to this one: ‘Cooperative effort by the members of a group or team to achieve a common goal.’
It is known that a team can achieve results that go far beyond the sum of the results that each individual member could achieve. However, although this is common knowledge, it is not so much common practice because there can be many factors that get in the way, most of them relating to poor leadership or individual egos.
I decided to make a list of 10 points for you to reflect upon that can help you improve the performance of YOUR team:
1. Foster a culture of mutual respect and listening to other people’s opinions by having clear rules that allow everyone the same rights to express opinions and contribute.
2. Make sure everyone has a clear understanding of the objectives and has had time to prepare for each meeting or discussion.
3. Help each other to be right, not wrong – give constructive suggestions instead of pointing out other people’s mistakes.
4. Listen to all input with an open mind – make an effort to understand the person’s point before you judge it.
5. Never take anything personal – the team is task and results oriented, not a personality contest.
6. Team goals are the highest priority – your personal agenda is secondary to the team’s objectives.
7. Aim for consensus – controversial issues should be dealt with special care focusing on thorough analysis of the data and bringing in outside help when necessary to eliminate inflexible positions.
8. Make sure decisions are based on what’s right and not on who’s right – rank or seniority should not trump reason.
9. Make sure decisions are made in efficient time – perfect is the enemy of good specially when there are deadlines to be met or opportunities not to be missed.
10. Always speak positively about the team and its members – positive attitudes lead to positive results.
Great teams communicate effectively and frequently. In fact communication is the single most important factor in successful teamwork.
Make sure any updates or developments between meetings are properly communicated to all team members.
Ask yourself often: What can you do to increase the team’s chances for success?
Team building training or even informal meetings (dinners, group sports) will build trust and strengthen the bonds between team members.
The stronger the bonds, the easier to self-correct any issues that may come up within the team as a whole or regarding one of the members.
‘Individual commitment to a group effort – that is what makes a team work, a company work, a society work, a civilization work.’ Vincent Lombardi
