Building Team Effectiveness

“Very simply put, a team is nothing but a system of getting people in a company to work together effectively” (Sethi, 2011) and in order to do that, any leader should follow three basic steps to create an effective team. The first step is to establish a clear communication channel between the team members and the leader. Second, make consequences known and give each member of the team the chance to learn and grow from mistakes or avoid them altogether. Finally, create a work environment that invites team members to collaborate, trust, and work well with one another (Heathfield, n.d.).

One of the best ways to create an effective communication channel between a leader and team members is to present a clear message of what the leader’s expectations are for team’s performance (Sethi, 2011). Once those expectations are defined and available then together the leader and the team can work towards creating goals, evaluating one another’s performance, and giving constructive feedback.

Once an open communication channel is established, define the consequences for appropriate and inappropriate team behaviors. When creating goals as a team, define what the consequences will be if those goals are not met. Also, make team members feel accountable for and proud of team achievements with rewards and recognition for finishing a job faster than expected, doing a job accurately, being a valuable team player, etc. (Heathfield, n.d.).

The final step in creating an effective team is to build trust and collaboration within the team. Creating an “open door” policy and always being honest allows team members to trust in their leader first and then one other. To strengthen collaboration, leaders should ensure that team members understand their importance in different aspects in the group and that their contributions count.
           
Creating an effective team may not be as hard as it seems. Clear communication, consequences, and collaboration are in sync with one another when it comes to making the ideal team. Implement and follow these three basic steps and your team is sure to improve.

References

Heathfield, S. M. (n.d.). 12 Tips for Team Building. Retrieved from About.com Human Resources.

Sethi, J. (2011, July 25). Tips on Enhancing Team Effectiveness. Retrieved from Human Resources Blog.