Teams matter more than ever these days. Good—even great—teamwork is a valued commodity, but it doesn’t happen naturally and without hard work.
It is increasingly common for teams today to be a mix of hybrid, virtual, and in-person elements. Mixed teams often have the benefit of greater collaboration tools—but they are just as often being pulled in multiple directions. Before you can build a high-performing team, it might help to think about the unique needs of each team member.
- Do you have a mix of virtual/remote members or in-person teams? Has this changed recently?
- What is the level of experience of team members?
- What is the percentage of new versus tenured team members?
Research proves that regardless of industry, tenure, or size, effective teams demonstrate certain common characteristics. For example, they deliver excellent results, demonstrate commitment, and have a high level of trust. To get started building those strengths on your team, here are some basic steps to work toward:
1.Provide each team member with the opportunity to grow both personally and professionally
Just like one size doesn’t fit all, each team member has a range of experience and expertise that should be identified and nurtured. Giving team members the opportunity to learn and grow acknowledges the changing nature of work and changes in technology or new discoveries. It also allows them to grow in their role and prepare for future roles.
2.Help them commit to a shared goal or vision
Commitment doesn’t happen automatically—it can be a challenge for managers to engender trust among team members if they themselves don’t understand the vision. The first step is to ensure you are communicating the vision and garnering buy-in by showing them their role in accomplishing that.
3.Respect what they bring to the team - even if you do not agree with them 100% of the time
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