Even the most skilled individuals cannot automatically guarantee that a team as a whole will be successful. In any field, real performance arises through effective collaboration: each person beings different skills, experience and weaknesses, and it is precisely the ability to work with this diversity that determines results. Successful teams manage to set up a way of working that makes the best use of everyone’s strengths. Here are three fundamental pillars upon which a well functioning team is built.
First trait: Shared goal
For a team to collaborate properly, everyone must clearly understand the direction of travel. A shared vision is the foundation that unites individuals into a single whole. However, a vague statement is not enough: goals need defining concretely and measurably. This is the task of the manager or team leader. A good vision can be split into partial steps and tasks with clear ownership. Instead of a general desire to improve customer experience, it is far more effective to set a goal, such as increasing customer satisfaction by a specific percentage within three months.
Second trait: Diverse approaches
The same result can be achieved via different routes. Some people choose an analytical approach, others rely on intuition or experience. Both can work: the key is team members' ability to respect differences. As noted by the Harvard Business Review, the quality of team collaboration depends directly on being able to accept the fact people are different. Diversity of approaches gives a team flexibility, enabling it to respond to a wide range of situations which a lone individual would struggle to handle.
Third trait: Appropriate hard and soft skills
Even the most well aligned team cannot function long term without the necessary competencies. Each member should be a true professional in their area and perform their role reliably and with high quality. Weak points in a team represent a risk and can jeopardise the credibility of the entire group and the success of projects. A single dysfunctional link is often enough to break the entire chain. Expertise, responsibility and professionalism of individuals form the solid foundation upon which a successful team can build.
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