The Golden Science of Building a Team
A team can make or break a business. That’s why building a team should be an incredibly thorough and well-thought-through process.
However, recent studies have revealed that building a team that’s poised for success, goes much further than a decent CV, impressive interview and a gut feeling. There’s actual science behind the ultimate dream team. In this article, we delve into some of these stunning revelations and empower you with the knowledge to create your own.
The X Factor in Business
A recent study done by MIT’s Human Dynamics Laboratory has proven that high-performing teams have very specific group dynamics and characteristics. The X factor in business ultimately seems to begin and end with communication.
In the studies conducted, the difference in communication styles, tones etc. were clearly identifiable when it came to those who work in a team that yielded results versus those who work in a team that delivered much lower performance rates. In the following, five specific characteristics a high-functioning team must have:
- Everyone in the team has an equal opportunity to speak and listen, and all contributions from team members are kept short and sweet.
- Communication occurs face-to-face, and both their verbal and non-verbal cues are very energetic.
- The typical corporate hierarchy is set aside, and all team members communicate directly with each other – not just via a team leader.
- There is side-chatter occurring within the team. They don’t just meet up for meetings or specific discussions and then that’s the end of their interaction.
- There’s an exploration side to group communication. From time to time a team member will break from the group communication, get external information/feedback and bring that valuable insight back to the group
Building a Team Geared Towards Success
To compile your dream team, there are a few things to take into account:
Look at Complimenting Skill Sets
This is where many seem to go wrong from the start. A successful team is not one that’s comprised of individuals with similar skill sets. You need to find people who complement each other’s strengths and weaknesses.
Establish Clear Roles From the Start
Nothing can cause more confusion or disharmony within a team than when people keep stepping on each other’s turf. We’ve seen this time and time again. Especially with start-ups, where the job title lines often get blurry and everyone is helping with everything. This might seem like a cost-effective solution at the beginning. However, if you want your team to work like a smoothly oiled machine, you need to recognize that a machine has different parts. This also communicates to team members that you respect them as individuals. Also, it shows that you trust them enough to carry the responsibility for certain things.
Define Expectations
This is different from the individual roles and responsibilities. It is about what the entire team is working towards. All who work in a team must ensure that they are aligned and moving towards the same goal.
Have Open Discussions
This is something that old-school business models never encouraged. The fear used to be that opening the floor to all team members and having them actively voicing and participating in the set-up and the running of the team’s operations would cause division.
But remote working and the big resignation have forced a lot of organizations to have what might initially be uncomfortable conversations. To the surprise of many, the opposite of what was expected happened. Team members felt seen, valued and instead of causing division, it created unity.
By following the above-mentioned guidelines on building a team, your team is ready to be fine-tuned into the absolute productive powerhouse it has the potential to be.
Building a Team vs. Team Building
There is a difference between building a team and team building. Building a team is when you select the members of your team. Team building is taking that team and developing it into the best it can possibly be.
There are plenty of activities and exercises a team can do to help with team building, whether in-office or as part of a team building retreat. In the following, a few benefits of team building:
It Boosts Morale
A lot of emphasis has been placed on this in recent years since the pandemic and the big resignation. Praise, motivation and encouragement can quickly dissolve in the everyday mundane routines. During team building sessions, it once again ignites that spark within all who work in a team.
It Helps Colleagues Know Each Other on a Deeper Level
There’s a big difference between the Fred in the boardroom and the Fred who needs to get everyone across a river using only a few logs as part of a team event task. Team building exercises and activities generally give team members a much better understanding of (and appreciation for!) each other.
It Takes Critical Thinking and Problem Solving to the Next Level
Team building exercises and activities really take your team out of their comfort zone. Furthermore, they pose different kinds of challenges than they’re used to within their day-to-day routine. Whether a physical challenge such as an obstacle course or just a mental exercise setting a theoretical scenario – these will not only help them work in a team better, but also help develop their own personal skill sets.
It Creates Trust
Well, at least at the end. You might not be so certain of putting your life in the hands of your colleague (metaphorically or in some team building scenarios, quite literally), but the benefit of knowing that team members have your back is priceless.
Building a team can seem difficult, but by following our advice you’ll be able to create and empower people to be the best version of themselves and improve their overall performance when they work in a team. For more helpful advice or other valuable business resources, check out other articles on our blog or what the latest offering from our Consultport Academy is.
