Poor team dynamics can be as detrimental to a project as poor management. Good team dynamics mean a productive successful team. You may think your team doesn’t need an intervention, but consistently working on team dynamics is important for any team to keep it running smoothly and effectively.
Here are some common signs that your team dynamics need to be reviewed:
- Lack of focus & energy – your team is struggling to keep their eye on the target and don’t have the same energy for the project that they started with.
- Tension – there is often tension between team members that is never addressed
- Self-interest – the individuals in the team have begun looking out for their own interests and shifting blame when mistakes are made
- Average has become acceptable – your team is producing average work and is no longer striving and self-motivating
- Dominant few – your team is being run by a few dominant members, while the rest sit back and let them take control
Here are some simple tips for addressing these danger signs and improving the dynamic in your team:
1. Define roles and responsibilities
Properly defining the roles and responsibilities within your team will encourage a sense of ownership and promote direction and focus. Ensure that each person understands what he or she is accountable for.
2. Improve communication
Everyone knows that in a relationship, communication is key. So why should your team be any different? Good communication is central to improving the relationships and productivity in your team. Draft a Communication plan, in order to ensure that everyone is clear on all communication and that there is no room for ambiguity.
3. Promote problem solving and participation
If there is a problem within the team, encourage your team to solve the problems together, and ensure that everyone is striving for a win-win solution. Team-work and mutual respect reinforces cohesion and will help your team to work together as a unit.
4. Get to know your team and encourage them to know each other
Team building is a valuable tool for helping your team members to get to know one another and for you to find out about individuals’ strengths and weaknesses. These exercises can help to gently integrate new members into the team and help your existing team to learn to work together.
5. Celebrate individual successes
Make a point at every meeting of celebrating the successes of individual team members. Making individuals feel valued will inspire and motivate them to do their best.
Sometimes a third-party intervention might be required for teams with specific problems. CoLAB’s Team Alignment services are designed to align your team to a common understanding of the project goal and each person’s role and approach, getting your projects back on track. If you would like to know more, please contact CoLAB.
