HIGH FUNCTIONING TEAMS

Working within a team is a workplace reality for most people, regardless of level – whether you are within a project environment, a group of consultants allocated to support clients, or an organisational leader who works with other executive colleagues on strategic matters. On a personal level, it can also be useful to apply many of the following principles and ideas to all kinds of relationships, the voluntary work we do and our home environment. Whether you are the leader or participant of a team, good clear group leadership skills are a critical success factor to ensure healthy team functioning and high productivity.

HOW YOU KNOW YOU ARE WORKING IN A HIGH FUNCTIONING TEAM - OR NOT

In reflecting on my experiences in groups, as both a facilitator and participant, I find it useful to ask myself a few questions about what might be happening:

•   How do I feel when I’m in this group – focused and engaged or a bit bored? Do I look forward to working with this group of people?
•   Do I feel comfortable to speak up in meetings – confident to contribute freely or am I concerned about being judged?
•   Am I clear about the primary work task of the group and is this view shared by all members?
•   How productive is the team - does the team chair or leader keep the group focused on the task, or does the agenda often stray?
•   How collaborative is the team - when people speak, do others listen and then build on what they say, or do they engage in ‘one-upmanship’?
•   How does the group deal with differences of opinion – do people feel safe to express their ideas or is there an unspoken rule that only compliant behaviours are welcome?

IMPORTANT GROUP LEADERSHIP SKILLS

These are only a few of the important questions that we can reflect on, to begin to understand the group dynamic and how well a team is working. Regardless of the current level of functioning of the team you’re in, know there is always room for improvement. Naturally if you are the leader of a group, it is much easier to directly change the way your team functions, however it is equally important to remember that all of us have the capacity to lead, irrespective of level, and we can influence the way things work.

Group leadership skills are rarely taught, either at university level or within other training settings. We are not talking about how to set an agenda and all of the practical aspects of how to run meetings and workshops – yes, they are important, but they are not the ‘glue’ and not the container for good group functioning. Group leadership skills are calling on a strategic mindset:

•   how to frame the group work task in a way that aligns to the organisation’s purpose
•   how to build the group container
•   how to ensure genuine buy-in from all members (and their managers)
•   how to gain active participation from all group members
•   Understanding how organisational forces can impact group functioning and what to do with this
•   being able to recognise specific group dynamics that will either help or distract from the productivity of the team.

HOW THERAPY AND COACHING CAN HELP

Many people have a natural flair for how they lead teams and constructively participate in groups. Even so, advanced group leadership skills and mindset can be highly beneficial to anyone who leads or spends a lot of their working life in teams. Refining this aspect of your professional identity and toolkit can help to lift your performance within a team setting.

Sondra Ramirez

Workplace Therapist and Counselor