The first thing I look for in putting together any team is the right chemistry for the particular task at hand. If the team is responsible for completing a construction project I need expertise and great project managers. When the assignment is to create a new vision statement I want very creative people that are willing to think outside the box.
One of the best books on team building is The Performance Factor by Pat MacMillan. He is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Team Resources Inc. an international consulting firm specializing in organizational and team development.
Regardless of the team dynamics and the task assignments there should be some guiding principles that give direction to all teams. The following list from MacMillan is the best one I have found and creates an environment of mutual respect that drives participation and performance:
- We are open and honest with one another.
- We treat each other with dignity and respect.
- We listen to and respect each other’s ideas and opinions.
- We hold confidences.
- We honor our commitments.
- We support and invest in each other’s development.
- We routinely critique our processes.
- We have fun.
If the team leader can model and get everyone to buy into these principles then the potential for a great outcome has dramatically increased. When teams often break down it has very little to do with the task at hand but with the way members communicate and relate to each other.
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