What are the key overall attributes that help teams to be successful and achieve great results and what are the “5 must-have” behaviors for managers/leaders who want to develop amazing teams?
Lets take a look . . .
As for overall team attributes, there are many, but these are the ones we think are key — the ones successful teams cannot be without!
- Team members listen to one another — really listen!
- Team members are open to new ideas — actually encourage them!
- Team members promote interaction — ones that are trusting and respectful!
If you’re a manager/leader and want to lead amazing teams (and who doesn’t), here’s our thinking on the “5 must have” behaviors you will need.
- Encourage creativity!
Create an environment where team members are always open to change and understand that solutions that may have worked before may not be working now.
2. Trust your gut!
Know that your experience and expertise are vital ingredients to your everyday decision-making and success, and never discount that “little voice” inside that’s saying “yes” or “no.” Intuition really is a powerful tool. Use it!
3. Have a sense of humor!
Everyday is filled with “drama” — and the 24/7 “soap opera” most of us live can really take a toll. Humor — appropriately used — can help move us beyond uncomfortable to a much better place! Work can be fun!
4. Delegate!
Never be afraid to “share” your “to do” list with others. It may be hard for you to acknowledge but you’re not the only in the world that can do what’s on “your list.” So spread the “fun” around. Let others help — and grow!
5. Support collaboration!
And when you ask people to work collaboratively with you, help them to do it. Be open to providing the right tools, resources and personal support. Listen carefully to what they say, thank them for their input, mentor, coach, and look for ways to act on and give credit for their ideas.
Try these ideas to help you develop or improve your “5 must have” behaviors.
Practice Idea 1:
Consider which are the strongest teams working on issues right now in your organization. Contact the team leader and ask him/her if you might silently observe one of the team’s meetings. Be clear that you are hoping to learn from the team strategies things that might strengthen your own team efforts. While in attendance, make notes around these questions:
- Are people listening to each other — and how do you know that. If they are not listening why not?
- How do members of the team react when new or different ideas are raised?
- List examples of how the team members show respect and trust for each other — or not?
- Overall — what’s you assessment — how many of the key aspects of good team behavior do they exhibit
Practice Idea 2:
Consider this question: When have you been successful with humor in a team? When have you failed?
At the end of a team meeting take 5 minutes and ask the team to share with you what they think makes humor successful or not in a team meeting. Take notes and together with your own reflections see if you can gain some new insight into how and when to use humor.
Practice Idea 3:
At the beginning of your next team meeting with a team focused on a complex and important task, ask the group to spend a few minutes each silently noting what they feel is missing from the team in terms of resources. Use a question like this: If you could have any resources to make this team really innovate and achieve a great outcome what would those resources be? After a few minutes lead a brief discussion of what people wrote down. Make a list and at the end of the meeting see if there are any resource “wants” that would be possible and truly help the team be more successful.
Succession Planning