Three things all great teams have in common
Are you responsible for managing a team of people? Read three things all great teams have in common – and find out how you can get the best from yours.
It’s widely accepted that a good manager is the key to a well-functioning team. However, it takes more than simply developing your own skills to cultivate an unbeatable team.
It takes time and effort to strategise and implement key areas of focus to grow as a manager and build a truly happy, productive and efficient team.
Three things all great teams have in common
So if you’re looking for inspiration to nurture your own team, here are three things that all great teams have in common, by team building experts, Team Tactics.
1) They have a clear and communicative leader
As a manager, your team members will look to you for understanding, leadership and recognition. So it’s important that you give each individual member a sense of direction.
This starts with ensuring they understand what your company’s plans are, and how they can help to get you to that position. Their own progression and prospects should be included in this understanding, as well as any goals you’ve put into place for the team.
Consider how your team can operate most efficiently, too. Then put processes in place and communicate clear ground rules that will enable your team to reach your goals and deadlines, and help you monitor work.
As the team manager, you need to be a good communicator, an inspiration and a source of encouragement. You need to be able to delegate tasks efficiently, solve any problems that emerge, and recognise and reward your team’s (and individual) successes.
2) Each member takes ownership of their work
In a healthy team, each team member has a clear understanding of their role and feels they’re a valued component of your organisation.
They also have the confidence to take ownership of their individual tasks, enabling you to delegate work to the right people, and build a smooth-running team where everyone knows what they need to be doing and when (and takes responsibility for achieving it).
As the manager you should also take ownership of your own tasks. These can include:
- Overseeing the running of the team.
- Offering support and protection to team members when needed.
- Providing motivation and encouragement when required.
- Recognising and rewarding individual success.
3) They nurture strong relationships
A team can’t succeed if the people within it don’t get on with each other. So if your team doesn’t enjoy a strong bond, look for opportunities to build collective trust and individual relationships, and nurture a sense of community.
Help your team to see beyond any individual differences, and instead focus on what they have in common – working towards the same goal. And remind them that if you achieve that goal for your company, ALL members of the team will ultimately benefit.
Do you hold team meetings and give people an opportunity to share any concerns that need addressing? And give you an opportunity to keep them informed on any progress they are making collectively?
Organising events outside the office can also build morale. Look for team building activities that enable your team to have fun and bond, and include them as a core element of your management strategy, rather than waiting until your team is at breaking point and booking an emergency, one-off event.
And finally, ensure that your team, and every member within it, has a sense of meaning. Each person’s role should have purpose, and collectively the team needs to believe they are making a difference.
With engaged, motivated people working in harmony towards a common goal you’ll have a team that will be hard to beat.
Need more management advice?
Running (or managing part of) a successful business isn’t always easy. You’ll find more helpful tips in these articles:
