Go Team!
On the subject of teams, what exactly is the difference between a ‘team’ and a ‘work group,’ anyway? What makes any team a ‘team,’ and what makes it effective? Seriously. If you think about it, a work group is made up of more than two people and a team is made up of a work group. So…couldn’t we say a team is a work group? The answer is no.
If you look in the dictionary or the encyclopedia du jour — Wikipedia — it would tell you “a team is a group of people… linked in a common purpose.” However, it will also tell you “a (work) group doesn’t necessarily constitute a team.” Curious, eh?
The difference is that a team is a group of individuals, who gather their goals around a common purpose. Hmmm, you might say, if there are three, five, or eight of us and we have a purpose to work towards, does that make us a team now? The answer is maybe. Here comes our twist to the common definition: We believe a team is a group of individuals, who gather their goals around a common purpose, effectively. We believe a team by nature should be effective.
No doubt, any group, by definition of having multiple constituents, has multiple dynamics they need to manage themselves against. In a team, there will likely be interdependent and independent tasks, managing towards a common purpose. Therefore, there is higher complexity at play. Individuals may be effectively managing their parts; however, that doesn’t guarantee you are being effective as a team though, does it?
Over the years, research has perfected some common elements of effective teaming. My favorites come from Patrick Lencioni’s book The Five Dysfunctions of a Team:
- Effective teams have trust at their core.
- Effective teams engage in unfiltered conflict around ideas and manage differences constructively.
- Effective teams commit to final decisions and agreed plans of action.
- Effective teams hold one another accountable for delivering against agreed actions.
- Effective teams focus on achievement for collective results vs. individual results.
If you are being assigned to a team or sign up to be a part of one in the near-term, you may want to pay attention to these elements.
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