Some groups of people just work so well together. They share ideas, listen to each other, and contribute whenever they can. They’re welcoming, creative, empowering, and productive. They make any project seem like it can be easily managed – no matter how challenging it might be!
High-performing teams come in all different varieties. Yet, they do tend to have certain characteristics in common, including the following:
- Team members trust each other and support the team’s mission.
- Everyone on the team feels free to share their thoughts and ideas.
- Team members respect each other.
- Team members all know the processes that are followed to get tasks done.
- Everyone on the team has the same goal.
- Team members know what is expected of them.
- All team members contribute to the project.
- Team members are relaxed and informal when interacting with each other.
- Project decisions are discussed, and everyone on the team is given the chance to contribute.
- Team members are encouraged to point out problems and voice dissenting opinions. Working through problems and disagreements ultimately helps to make the end product stronger and better.
- When the team is unable to reach a decision, decisions are made by the team lead.
- Team leadership can shift from one team member to another if it will benefit the overall project.
So if you’re forming a new team, these are definitely qualities to encourage and aspire towards! It can also be helpful to create a “team charter” at the beginning of a project. It’s a document that outlines basic things like the purpose of the team, how often the team will meet, and the desired end result of their efforts.
Wiese, C., & Ricci, R. (2012, July 22). 10 characteristics of high-performing teams. The Huffington Post. Retrieved from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/carl-wiese/10-characteristics-of-hig_b_1536155.html
