What Is A Team?

What Makes A Team Great?

There was a common goal or cause everyone was committed to and worked for together; winning the game, completing the project, coming up with an idea, solving a problem, improving an environment.

However, even if the goals were accomplished by that team, for most of us it is our experience of being on that team, and the style of leadership which was provided, which affects our attitude and our desire to participate on a future team. Was being on a team a positive experience or a negative experience? Did it increase your confidence or diminish your confidence? Do your memories of that team make you smile or have you blocked them?

Were the outcomes worth the work of being on that team?

More often than not our memories and our experiences of being on a team will influence our definitions of “what is a team” much more than the achievements of that team.

Was the team dominated by strong personalities? Was the leader encouraging or critical and disparaging? Were team meetings energizing or draining? Were team members loyal to each other, watching each others backs or were they competitive and critical of one another behind each others backs? Did each team member grow in their skills and abilities and feel they each had a unique contribution or were they shut down, rarely given a voice, usually on the sidelines?

If someone asked you what is a team? How would you answer them?

When team members are excited and positive about their participation on a team and the quality of their teamwork together, one of the most significant factors is what kind of leader does that team have?

A team will thrive when the team leader:

• Respects their team; listen to others points of view and believe the best ideas come from multiple perspectives.
• Understands the value of interdependence in working towards a clear common goal.
• Has developed relational skills to deal with conflict and personality differences.
• Encourages the team to feel ownership of the cause or project. “ours not mine.”
• Gives credit to the whole team for accomplishments.
• Makes it safe to be honest and vulnerable with each other.
• Can encourage a team in how to solve problems together, instead of imposing his own solutions.
• Celebrates each team member’s skills and accomplishments.
• Recognize the value of good relationships and encourages care for each other.
• Demonstrates value for the different backgrounds and skills each team member brings to the team.
• Can admit to and own his or her mistakes.
• Is perceived as being “other” focused, not “me” focused; genuinely wanting each other to succeed.

Why settle for less than the best?

So, instead of answering “what is a team”, this site is dedicated to both what and who makes a great team?

To strive towards making a team great, has the potential to give everyone on that team an experience of the power of teamwork that will both grow them individually and accomplish great things.

To this end we want to provide team leaders with the best team building resources and coaching help to increase your skills so you can develop a great team.

We have worked with many great teams and we know a great team is not a myth!

How would you answer the two questions:

1. What is a team?
2. What makes a team great?

To share your answers to what is a team and what makes a team great make your submissions below in the box. Thank you.

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