7 Key Dimensions of High Performance Teams
We can always look at the behaviors and skills of team leaders and team members in analyzing team performance and success, but it is also instructive to look at the overall team as well. The list of attributes that follows describes team units that are highly productive and successful. You can use this list as a set of criteria by which you can judge your own team.
Commitment - Team members see themselves belonging to the team. They are committed to group goals above and beyond their personal goals and agendas.
Trust - Team members have faith in each other to honor commitments, maintain confidences, support each other and generally behave predictably and consistently.
Purpose - The team understands how it fits into the overall business of the organization. Team members know their roles, feel a sense of ownership, and can see how they personally, and as a team, make a difference.
Communication ? Effective teams communicate effectively and frequently with each other and also communicate clearly and consistently with people outside the team about team activities. Effective internal communication allows these teams to make balanced decisions, handle conflict constructively and provide each other valuable feedback.
Involvement - Everyone has a role on the team. Despite differences in roles, perspectives and experience, team members feel a sense of partnership with each other. Contributions are respected and expected. True consensus is reached when appropriate.
Process Orientation ? High performing teams have a large number of process tools they can use when needed. Process tools would include: problem solving tools, planning techniques, regular meetings, agendas, and successful ways of dealing with problems, behavioral agreements, and ways to improve those processes within the team.
Continuous Improvement - The team understands the importance of continuous improvement, has the tools, knowledge and time at their disposal to make Continuous Improvement really happen. All improvement efforts are done in support of the organization's goals and objectives.
If you feel a team is ready for such a discussion, pull out this list of attributes and have a team discussion on how well people feel their team is doing on each of these dimensions, the discussion can be enlightening and help the team move its performance to even higher levels.
?1997, All Rights Reserved, Kevin Eikenberry. Kevin is the President of The Kevin Eikenberry Group, a learning consulting company that helps their Clients reach their potential through a variety of training, consulting and speaking services. To learn more about customized training and workshops on teams go to http://www.kevineikenberry.com/training/training.asp or contact Kevin at toll free 888.LEARNER.
professional home cleaners Morton Grove ..In the constantly changing world of Call Centers, asking agents... Read More
Abstract: Based on significant research, Entelechy has defined characteristics of... Read More
Maybe you find yourself in a new team environment and... Read More
1. Involve them. Many employees want to be involved in... Read More
In the new corporate environments where everyone wears more than... Read More
Leaders are faced with unlocking the potential in the people... Read More
It's frustrating when your co-workers, audience members, teenager or even... Read More
From the moment he putted with Bob Hope on the... Read More
Once you've set a goal for yourself as a leader... Read More
Team Building Question:A team is full of animosity, pretended interpersonal... Read More
If asked to look at your work calendar for the... Read More
When was the last time you spent excessive time and... Read More
"When teamwork kicks in, nobody can beat you." Don Shula,... Read More
Recently while waiting for our lunch to be served in... Read More
The people in your team may feel a bit uncomfortable... Read More
The ability to build effective teams is a must for... Read More
Survival: The Name of the New Economic Game People rarely... Read More
Team Building Question:I'm a manager of a team of 20... Read More
12 Tips and Reminders for Team Members To Enjoy Their... Read More
No figure in history is like General Patton. He was... Read More
The second in a series of 2 articles giving a... Read More
Turbulent TwistersYou've read about it in the headlines and experienced... Read More
Having experienced more than my fair share of conflict over... Read More
There are few industries or service type businesses, which are... Read More
Companies often have incentives for reps, but sometimes that isn't... Read More
spring cleaning service Winnetka ..Let's look at the detail of giving feedback. Whether you... Read More
Over the years there has been much ado about team... Read More
In the new corporate environments where everyone wears more than... Read More
People who lead the best teams realise early on that... Read More
"Conflict becomes politics, commitment becomes 'Only if it's in my... Read More
Internal business structures have been radically transformed over the past... Read More
Team Building Question:A team is full of animosity, pretended interpersonal... Read More
Someone once said - "Feedback is the breakfast of champions."... Read More
Team Building Question:I'm a manager of a team of 20... Read More
Last month's edition of Footprints and Monuments illustrated a parallel... Read More
You're at a meeting with key staff. You want some... Read More
We live in very progressive times, one only has to... Read More
A follow-up companion reader to The 17 Indisputable Laws of... Read More
Consensus is the appropriate decision strategy for the most important... Read More
We all know someone who just drives us batty. Perhaps... Read More
Young minds are quite easy to shape. International Terrorist recruiters... Read More
Are workers telling the truth when they say they are... Read More
Turbulent TwistersYou've read about it in the headlines and experienced... Read More
What's the Secret Ingredient That Turns Groups into Teams? Working... Read More
Team Building Question:Our office has recently learned that about 20... Read More
Perhaps you're a small business owner wondering how you and... Read More
Have you seen the tee-shirt with the slogan, "Talk to... Read More
"Teamwork is the ability to work together toward a common... Read More
Do you let your people express their thoughts about the... Read More
Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More
Team Building |