Team is a word that is often thrown around today. People play on athletic teams and work in teams. But what does a highly functioning team look like? Based on my research, I want to share some basic characteristics of highly functioning teams.
1. Mourn with those who mourn and rejoice with those who rejoice.
We hear sad news of colleagues and are quick to offer sympathy and extend a hand of help. We may even feel bad for an individual’s poor performance. Highly functioning teams are there for each other. They empathize with team members when someone is going through struggles.
Rejoicing in another’s good fortune is not always as easy. Usually, someone else’s success means our failure or, at a minimum, lack of success. We find it difficult to be as excited for that individual who gets accolades for their performance. It becomes even more difficult when another individual or group seems to be getting more benefits or notice for their performance than you or your group. It becomes a “Marsha, Marsha, Marsha” syndrome. Instead of being excited and celebrating with them, we become angry, resentful, or jealous. The result becomes an unhealthy competition for recognition. Highly functioning teams celebrate each other’s successes. In fact, they will be the first to recognize a teammate’s hard work and achievement.
2. Don’t care who gets the credit.
A highly functioning team doesn’t lose focus. They do not get caught up in who did what. They set out to achieve a goal and do not care how it is achieved. They are not worried about everyone knowing their particular contributions to the success. It is more about achieving the goal than who did what to achieve the success. Often members of highly functioning teams who are receiving recognition for their achievements are quick to point out the contributions of all the other members of the team. It is less about me and more about the team.
3. Accept failure without pointing fingers
On the other end of the spectrum, a highly functioning team does not point fingers. They recognize there will be failures. They know to achieve there have to be some setbacks. Highly functioning teams have members who take responsibility for their failures and their role in a failure. They are willing to help and support the weaker members of the team without calling them out. They will take time out of their busy schedule to support those on the team that are struggling because they know they are only as good as their weakest link.
4. Know their roles
In athletics, we often see the best of the best form a “dream” team but successful results do not follow. On the other end of the spectrum, we see teams that seem to lack “superstar” status be successful. The difference? One team is dedicated to each other and the goal. The other team is dedicated to themselves. They are more interested in individual accolades. On highly functioning teams individuals know their strengths and weaknesses. They concentrate on putting people in their strengths so the individual and the team can be successful. Jim Collins in his book Good to Great refers to it as getting the right people in the right seats on the bus.
The highly functioning teams work to their strengths while understanding their weaknesses. They support others by not setting individuals up for failure but success. Setting up people for success takes getting to know each other well and being willing to admit that we are not good at everything. It also takes accepting that someone may be better at something than we are.
5. Do everything without complaining or grumbling
Not everything will go well. We will not agree with everything our boss, coach, or colleagues decide to do. What we do next will determine the team’s success. Highly functioning teams do not sit back and complain. They look for solutions. They take the time to analyze the decision. If it is possible and necessary, they address the person making the decision. Otherwise, they review the decision using their expertise to make the best of the situation. Often after time has passed, they find that the decision when followed can lead to great success. Instead of wasting time and energy complaining, they are putting their time and effort towards a positive outcome.
Each team serves a different purpose and creates their own goals. However, highly functioning teams work well together. Highly functioning teams are highly effective. The good news is that if your team does not have these five characteristics, it is not too late. You can turn it around. Once you do, you will find your team working more efficiently and achieving the results you desire.
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