This lesson looks at some of the issues surrounding establishing and developing teams. You will look at what makes a team successful and also analyse some of the different personalities that make up an effective team.
What is a team?
Use these key words to fill the gaps.

talented                      skills                       objectives                    talent               complement

1.01

I need training in order to learn the skills required in my new job.

1.02

We need to know what we want to achieve – what our _______________ are.

1.03

Her ideas are new and exciting. She is a very _______________ designer.

1.04

Her creative genius and his practical business mind is a great combination – they ______________ each other perfectly.

1.05

Although he is young and new to the business, he has a lot of _______________. We must help him develop it.
1.06 Read the definitions and decide which one best describes a team. Put a tick () in the box next to the best answer.

A

A team is a collection of talented individuals doing what one individual cannot do alone.

 

B

A team is the same as a group.

 

C

A team is a collection of individuals whose skills complement each other’s and who work together to achieve common objectives.

 

D

A team consists of a group of individuals each with a similar talent working together towards a common objective.

 

E

A team is a group of people which uses its skills to get results to benefit the group.

 
What makes a good team? This activity looks at the components of a successful team.
Let’s start by looking at a successful football team, perhaps the biggest name in football around the world – Manchester United. Manchester United are an extremely successful football team having dominated English football during the 90s and early 2000s. They have massive global support and are also a highly successful business. So, what makes them so successful as a team?
Look at the checklist and match the bullet points to the explanations below.

A

Talented individuals

G

Strength in depth

B

Team players

H

Clearly defined objectives

C

Versatility

I

Learning process

D

Continuity

J

Working techniques

E

Strong leadership

K

New members – integration

F

Success breeds success

 
 

2.01

A team needs diversity - a range of different skills within the team group. Different members offer different knowledge, experience and skills.

 

2.02

Commitment to the team’s goals not just personal glory

 

2.03

People with the necessary individual skills

 

2.04

Staff turnover is inevitable – and often desirable. It is important that the team accepts new people and makes it as easy as possible for them to perform to the best of their ability. This way the team benefits

 

2.05

The team needs to know what it is aiming for. Everyone in the team needs to be working towards the same goal.

 

2.06

Confidence comes from making progress and getting results. When a team starts getting good results, it normally goes from strength to strength and achieves even more.

 

2.07

When people are unavailable or they leave the team and a replacement is not readily available, a good team will have the right people able to step in and take over the role of the absent person.

 

2.08

This may come from a dynamic individual with a clear sense of direction or it may come form  a group within the team.

 

2.09

Mistakes will be made. Use what you learn from these mistakes and move on. The experience is valuable.

 

2.10

Research, training, developing, refining – build on your skills to improve your ability to perform.

 

2.11

The team needs to be able to perform consistently well. To do this it needs to be able to replace members without upsetting the overall direction, atmosphere or team spirit.

 
Major football teams like Manchester United and Real Madrid have the luxury of being able to attract and afford some of the best players in the world. They are extremely successful and they are able to pay top of the range salaries. Many footballers dream of playing for such teams. However, buying the best players does not guarantee the best team. You need the right ingredients in the right mix to create a recipe for success. You need fast skilful players, hard physical players and defenders as well as attacking players.
This concept transfers to the business world as well. The best teams are not necessarily the ones made up of the brightest, cleverest individuals. A balance of skills, abilities and personalities is usually needed to make the team effective.
This activity looks at the different roles that different team members play in making a team effective in the professional world.
Choose from the words and expressions in the box to complete the notes below.

specialist                    co-ordinator                 home grown                imported         
youth               creative minds  team workers              experience

3.01

  a blend of _______________ and _______________ – young players benefit from the experience of the older team members

3.02

  _______________ and _______________ talent – finding talent from within the organisation and developing it is just as important as recruiting from outside

3.03

  teams often need a _______________ – someone who has expert knowledge or skills that other team members do not have.

3.04

All teams need _______________, people with ideas – often these individuals find routine work boring and are more interested in developing ideas than playing the team game. The team also needs more practical _______________ as a balance.

3.05

Having the right mix of skills and qualities in the team is not the end of the story – someone has to pull it all together to make it work properly i.e. someone has to play the role of _______________ and give the team direction.
Now answer the following True or False questions based on the previous exercise.

 

 

T/F

3.06

All teams need effective leadership.

 

3.07

Teams work best if the members have similar characters.

 

3.08

Often the more creative members are less focused on the team than on their own ideas.

 

3.09

It is important to get the balance of individual styles correct.

 

3.10

Younger members of the team are less important than the older, more experienced ones.

 
In Activity 2 you looked at the mix of different characters often required for an effective team. You saw that creative individuals, specialists and practical team workers are part of that mix. However, these contrasting styles need to be harmonised if the team wants to avoid conflict.
Creating a productive, creative and effective team requires managers and co-ordinators to find the right balance not only among the team members, but also in the activities the team is involved in.

Look at the following situations and try to decide what should be done to find the right balance.

Situation

Potential problems

Possible solutions

You create a team full of talented individuals each of whom has wonderful creative ideas.

4.01
Each individual believes their ideas are the best and will not accept the ideas of others. D

 

4.02     Look very carefully at the strengths and weaknesses of candidates before you make them part of the team. If you have too many creative geniuses, you make not actually create anything. Look for team members who will contribute to the team’s goals. F

You enthusiastically promote helpful support within the team and do not tolerate conflict among the team members.

4.03

4.04

You constantly tell your team how fantastically well they are doing.

4.05

4.06

You believe as manager you have to show your team that you can do everything you ask them to do.

4.07

4.08

Potential problems

A

The team thinks they can do no wrong and may become complacent.

B

Your team members don't have the opportunity to develop their own decision-making skills.

C

Team members avoid normal, healthy confrontation to try not to upset the team’s atmosphere.

D

Each individual believes their ideas are the best and will not accept the ideas of others.

Possible solutions

E

You need to organize your team in a way that allows different team members to use their skills effectively. You also need to delegate tasks. Do not try to do everything yourself.

F

Look very carefully at the strengths and weaknesses of candidates before you make them part of the team. If you have too many creative geniuses, you make not actually create anything. Look for team members who will contribute to the team’s goals.

G

Arguments and strong debate are often the result of competitiveness. Good managers will recognize and welcome this competition and will use it to create a productive environment. You can have conflict in the team as long as there is also respect.

H

Praise is important. The team needs to know it has your support. However, make sure you are able to criticise constructively as well. There is always room for improvement. Set new challenges and targets.
Now read the following situations and first decide what problems they might create. Write some ideas in the Potential problems column. Then, think of ways to solve these problems. Write some ideas in the Possible solutions column.

Situation

Potential problems

Possible solutions

You are keen for all your team members to attend as many training sessions as possible to learn new skills.

4.09

4.10

You believe it is necessary for everyone in the team to express themselves openly and honestly at all times even if it upsets individuals

4.11

4.12
The following points are some of the things a team leader needs to be able to do to get the most out of the individuals and the team as a whole.
  • Two way feedback – as well as giving feedback to the team, you should encourage feedback from team members about your performance and the team’s performance.
  • Motivation – make sure you praise the efforts and achievements of individuals and the team as a whole.
  • Involvement – it is important that all team members are involved in the work of the team. This includes decision making. The team leader makes the ultimate decision, but it is important that all team members are able to participate by giving ideas and advice.
  • Familiarisation – for a team to work at its best it is vital that team leaders get to know who is on their team. Taking an interest in them as people, not just as colleagues, can often make communication at work much easier.
  • Making information available – don’t keep everything to yourself, share important information so that the team feels involved in what is happening.
Whether you are a manager and team leader or a team member, think of the people you work with in a team and make notes on how well you work with them.
Are there any areas for improvement? Think about your own contribution as well as the contribution of others to team development.

5.01

 

 

 
In this lesson you have:
defined what a team is
looked at the different essential components of a successful team
considered the different roles played by team members
explored some of the issues in building and developing a team, looking at possible solutions to team building problems
reflected on your own role as a team member
The next e-m@il lesson in this module looks at feedback, an essential element of performance management and team development.