Like a Well Oiled Machine... Highly Performing Teams

Have you ever worked with a group of people and everything just goes right.  You solve problems and have ideas that create an enjoyable yet productive day.  These teams just get it and understand how to get things done.   Highly effective teams are something that every organization strives to achieve. When a team works together the team members are happy just to be a part of it.  
The team gels and gets things done.  This is what is known as a highly effective team. But what is it that makes a team a high performance team?  

     In looking at a high performance teams the dynamic of the team structure is important to the success of the team. 

- The team creates project goals and objectives that are well defined and achievable. 

- The team leaders are proactive and create an environment to promote collaboration.  

- Team leaders need creates an environment that promotes a team and that is non-competitive is important to facilitate team participation. 

- The team and the leader are successful in coming to a consensus and can make decision important for the progress of the project. 

- The team has well organized and well maintained information that creates a productive environment.  

- The team is highly effective and high performing they tend to meet regularly to discuss the progress of the project and the directive or requirements. 

- The team is driven by timelines and meets the goals of the project in a timely manner.  

- Teams that are highly successful have access to the technology necessary to complete their tasks effectively and collaborate on the items of the project. 

- The teams have a positive attitude and work in conjunction with each other.

- The team leader was effective in resolving conflict and gives the team the goals and directives that are clear and concise.

- The team members are highly skilled and are able to interchange their roles.

- The team should be diverse yet still are like minded and working towards the same goals.

- The team leadership within the team is not vested in a single individual. Instead the leadership role is taken up by various team members, according to the need at that moment in time.

- The team has robust methods of resolving conflict efficiently, so that conflict does not become a roadblock to achieving the team's goals.(Shared Leadership)

- The team has a sense of clear focus and intense energy within a high-performance team.

- The team has its own consciousness, indicating shared norms and values within the team.

- The team feels a strong sense of accountability for achieving their goals.

- The team members display high levels of mutual trust towards each other.

     Highly effective teams have the ability to accomplish the goals and objectives of the organization or project.  The environment that they create is pleasant yet challenging and creates a sense of unity.  If a team can obtain this objective the sustainability of the team is increased.  Highly effective teams create a sense of loyalty and are imperative to the success of an organization.  When we look at getting the job done we should look at the most effective way to do this.  The key is to create a productive environment that is interactive and supports all members of the team.  Teams that are diverse yet still have like mindedness are an essential part of the success or failure of a team, a project and an organization.

Leadership To Create Effective Team Growth

The Concept of Bruce Tuckman’s Stages of a Team’s life cycle are that all teams must go through a process of forming, storming, norming and performing to reach the level of performance necessary for success. Forming is the point in which the team is working as individuals and moving in different directions.  At this point there is not the formation of a team.  We have all been in this point when joining a team we are not sure of our position or our place in the group yet.  In the storming point in forming a teaming, turbulence and strife exist.  This is the point that leadership is necessary to move a team into the next stage.  Without a leader that is an effective transitional leader then the team will not move on to the next level.  Transitional in the sense that they can listen to and empathy with the members of the team but still directs them into the roles necessary to perform the task at hand.  Norming is creating the standards necessary for everyone to perform their roles effectively and efficiently.  Performing is the final self-actualization of the group where they move in a productive team able to work through issues and problems to produce effective results.

Just as Kohlberg’s Stages of Moral Development and Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, Tuckmans Team’s Life Cycle moves through progressions and can become fixated at certain points in its development. I believe that there are many factors that go into the dynamic of group development within an organization. I would agree that with proper facilitation a team can move through all of the stages of the life cycle. “The dramatic shift to team based work systems and the emphasis on building member capabilities places a spotlight on the critical role of team leaders.  Team leaders are arguably the key pin for developing team member capabilities” (Likert, 1961) The leader can make a dramatic difference in how the team progresses.

I have been in several team environments that have gone through several of the stages of team development.  Many of these groups, as Tuckman described, did not go beyond a certain stage.  One of these groups in particular was in a constant state of storming.  This was due to the lack of leadership and guidance.  The team was in constant turmoil because of the lack of leadership and the struggle for power within the group.  I would also agree that the maturity of the team members is an important part of the turmoil.  I have also worked in groups that are moved through to self-actualization or performing.  This was due to the leadership and maturity of the group.

Companies need to understand the power of teams. Organizational team leaders need to be nurtured and equipped to build teamwork and team efficiency. Teams can also be a source of power conflicts and bad politics.  Hence, a vigilant eye must be maintained on teams to ensure that there is no power play or interdepartmental politics. While a healthy competition is required to keep all teams on their toes; it is essential that competition is a positive motivating

factor” (Parker 1996).

In conclusion Leadership is an important part of this progression through the stages and must be maintained to create an effective team.