It’s safe to say that most of us have experienced the absolute agony of a group project at school. Whether you (like me) were the one who ended up doing all the work or whether you had to deal with explosive personality clashes. It was always hard to predict which way these traumatic experiences might go.
Unfortunately, the same thing can happen in the business world as well! Putting the wrong teammates together can lead to terrible productivity and wasted time … but the right group of people can do exactly the opposite. Cohesive teams can be innovative, efficient, and well worth the time and effort it takes to consider each member.
So, how do you create the winning team and set them up for success? Here are some of my best team strategy coaching tips.
Consider the Culture
Matching your winning team members according to their personalities is always the right first step. If you already have a good idea of their working styles and habits. You may be able to make this decision on the fly.
However, if you’d like a more in-depth look at each of them, especially if you’re creating a team for a critical or long-term project. Consider one extra strategy coaching tactic: match them based on personality types. A Myers-Briggs test, for example, can be a great way to identify which members’ strengths will fit together.
Clarify the Team’s Mission
If you want your team to be cohesive, they’ll need a goal to work toward. It becomes much easier to motivate all team members to work toward that common purpose with a compelling mission. Of course, don’t forget that you’ll also need to break this larger mission down into specific achievable goals, helping your team members to measure and celebrate their progress over time.
Set Expectations
All teams work best when everyone’s on the same page about each member’s roles and responsibilities. This can help your team understand the chain of command, the specifics of their own position, and their individual and shared duties.
Cultivate Cohesion
When all team members feel comfortable and included, they’re more likely to bring up innovative ideas, challenge the status quo, and work harder for their teammates. It may sound like a minor thing, but believe me when I say that it’s essential to make it easy for your team to spend time together and make decisions together. Set up daily meetings and huddles, have team members collaborate on the processes and playbook they’ll need, and don’t forget to encourage socialization outside of the office!
Whether you’re creating an independent team or running things yourself, you must consider the team’s dynamics and foundations if you want to see success. Remember, the extra effort of outlining the goals, rules, and responsibilities makes a world of difference in the team’s long-term success. So don’t ignore these steps!