Conventional wisdom says working in teams sucks. It doesn’t have to. Recent team experiences have taught me that teamwork can be quite beneficial – for the betterment of individual team members and their organization. The problem is that most teams and their leadership ignore what should be essential ground rules for all teams.
Following these simple ground rules when working in teams allows you to have a healthy and productive debate, while avoiding tense, damaging relationships, and hindering the success of the team’s mission or project.
Deal with conflict – in the open.
Nothing hurts the short and long-term successes of teamwork like hidden, simmering conflict. I find it’s best to bring conflict out into the open, put it on the table, and try to resolve it with input from all team members. Hidden conflict leads to mistrust, and withholding of multiple opinions. It’s toxic.
You must avoid groupthink.
The easy way out, groupthink kills individual, innovative ideas in favor of what everyone is comfortable with. Being that teamwork should bring out new, creative ideas, groupthink must be avoided at all costs.
Building trust
Team members should trust each other – completely. Only then will they be able to tune out the rest of the world and focus on what’s important: the team’s mission and project. Trust helps team members work together calmly, while enjoying their team experience. Imagine that.
Lead by example
One of the most essential ground rules: as team leader, you must set a good example. That means a focused, results-oriented team environment. Produce exceptional work, and expect it from others. Team members will follow your lead.
Learn from conflict
See conflict as a learning experience. Learn from your mistakes – or those of other team members. Most importantly, don’t repeat mistakes which initially led to conflict. Conflict is inevitable, and cannot always be avoided. The best thing to do is avoid a repeat of the same old tension.
Don’t get personal – ever
Avoid holding a grudge against other team members. It will just make your life miserable – and put your team’s mission into jeopardy. Refer to Rule #1 -bring conflict into the open. Look at conflict through a team and project-oriented lens. Instead of worrying about one person, figure out ways to fix a given problem.