Are you part of an effective team or one person in a group meeting for a common cause? There is a difference. Sometimes groups that call themselves teams do not operate as a team. If you are a sports fan perhaps you can recall watching a “team” like this. The dysfunction of its members leads to chaos and infighting, everyone looking out for his own interest and not the best interest of the team. Not only in sports, perhaps you have witnessed this in your organization or workplace as well. Have you ever considered what makes certain teams more successful than others?

There is much that could be written about building a successful team, more than this blog has space for. With that in mind let me list three initial characteristics of a healthy team. There are certainly more characteristics of healthy, successful teams. However, without these three as a foundation for forming a team and initiating the work, your team will not reach its potential.

Compatibility

One key characteristic is compatibility. Are all team members attuned to the need and working toward a ‘best’ solution and greatest potential of the team? All team members need to be harmonious for working side by side to accomplish the task of the team? This does not mean all members think alike. That can actually be disastrous for a team. Diversity on the team will lead to deeper exploration and greater search for the best outcome. Yet, all team members should be harmonious in reaching for the best solution/result. Compatibility should not imply that we all come in with the same thoughts or gift set on a particular situation. The compatibility needed is that we all agree that a resolution that is best and beneficial to the team objective is what we will work toward. And we will do it without animosity toward each other or ideas presented by other team members.

Loyalty

Loyalty of members to a team is crucial to the performance of a team and all outcomes by the team. We all have priorities in life and the priorities of your team need to be established at the very onset of your working together. Loyalty includes attendance to all meetings, participation, confidentiality, encouragement, and support of team members and objective. These descriptors of loyalty should be discussed and agreed upon by each member at the first meeting of the team.

Shared Responsibility

The term, team, in itself designates the work to be accomplished is to be shared by all members of the team. Too often organizational teams exist with one or two people carrying the load of the work and the team comes together periodically to discuss progress. This is not a team. Every person on a team should be recruited for the team for his or her gift/skill set. Each person has a role to fulfill and skills to assist the team in reaching its goals and objectives.

This is not intended in any way to be inclusive of all characteristics of a functioning team. But insuring these three are investigated and discussed before the team begins its actual assignment will greatly enhance your chances of an effective team and productive meetings and progress. What other characteristics do you value in a team?

For more information on developing effective teams or to pass on your thoughts and ideas contact George Yates and SonC.A.R.E. Ministries.