The idea that prompted this week's topic is the onset of our company retreat. Our company's executive team consists of individuals living in five different states, as well as four additional locations within one state. We are a team that works virtually. Getting together face-to-face is so important for not only our morale, but also for team building to ensure that our purpose aligns with our personal wants and needs, individually, and as a team.
Over the years, we have worked with many teams where there was not a clear purpose, focus, or mission. These are the key ingredients or characteristics that will sustain high levels of team motivation, which translates into a unified and rewarding team experience.
We have certainly had our own experiences where we didn't lead with a clear unified purpose or focus. We have had the pleasure of working on several multifaceted projects that have required enormous strategizing and brainstorming to build the plan for the scope. Where our team work faltered is when we assigned someone to deliver something they clearly didn't understand or did not have the skills to complete in a way that added value to the project. Not only has this wasted time, money, and efforts on the project, but we clearly did not align the tasks to this person's personal needs and wants, as well as skill sets. Motivation in this case was lacking because the team's purpose was not in line with some of the members' wants, needs, and talents.
The question then becomes, "What makes teams effective?" In our organization, we have clearly built a great "team," but do we work as a great team? Not always, and then you toss in the virtual aspect of our working conditions, and much can be miscommunicated, misunderstood, and ineffectively handled, which will certainly affect short and long-term performance. A team's need for sustenance, safety, security, belonging, recognition, as well as a sense of growth and achievement drive motivation and happy behaviors.
I recently read an article that will help us answer that question, "What makes teams effective?" Glenn Llopis wrote a leadership article called, 6 Ways Successful Teams Are Built To Last. Here are 6 ways to help understand and consider whether our teams are built to last:
- Be Aware of How You Work: Llopis talks about how you need to be aware of your own leadership style and the techniques you use around your team. Just because you use them doesn't mean they are accepted by your team. You may have good intentions, but unless you hold yourself accountable and lead from a position of strength and respectability, there is a good chance you will not be unified.
- Get to Know the Rest of the Team: It is your responsibility as a leader of your team to truly get to know each member of the team. Understanding their needs and the unique differences they bring to the group will ultimately be what activates their talent that will support the greater effort. Llopis says it well, "Fully knowing your team means that you have invested the time to understand how they are wired to think and what is required to motivate them to excel beyond what is expected from them."
- Clearly Define Roles & Responsibilities: As I mentioned above, with the virtual way in which our team works, if I don't master step #2, I then have a much greater chance of ineffectively using the team talent. What is clear to you may not be clear to the team. Roles and responsibilities must be interconnected and dependent upon one another. I am very passionate about "finding the fit." I haven't always hired right for the job, but I like to work with people to find where they can best fit in the organization that adds value.
- Be Proactive with Feedback: Feedback is essential for teams to stay on course. Llopis says that feedback is simply the art of great communication, and if it becomes too structured and stiff, it becomes difficult for the feedback to be authentic and impactful.
- Acknowledge and Reward: Always take the time to acknowledge and recognize each team member's good performance. If they have earned it, then they deserve it! "When people are acknowledged, their work brings them greater satisfaction and becomes more purposeful," Llopis says.
- Always Celebrate Success: It is very easy to focus on what could be done better, what needs to change, mistakes, etc. One of the greatest things that you can do for your team is to celebrate all your successes, no matter how small. Celebrating and remembering what allowed you to get to where you are is so important.
I am very clear why ProSolutions is successful: it's because of the team we built. I am appreciative of our team dynamics and differences. It is those differences that give us strength and power, and ultimately will sustain us.
See if these six steps can help you and your team to become even greater than you expected!
