Harvard psychologist Richard Hackman, a preeminent scholar of team effectiveness believes that a team’s design is the most vital factor in building winning teams. “Get the design right, the theory says, and the performance will take care of itself.”[i] To have a good design, you need “clear goals, well-designed tasks that are conducive to teamwork, team members with the right skills and experiences for the task, adequate resources, and access to coaching and support.”[i]
The results of getting an efficient team together are better performance, high morale and professional development of all. For an employee, “working effectively as part of a team is incredibly important for output quality, morale, and retention.”[ii] To become a highly valuable part of a team, take a look at these top 10 skills for creating team synergy:
| 1 | Build a Team | Select the team type and build teams using the steps of forming, storming, norming and performing |
| 2 | Create Team Synergy | Develop collaboration and cooperation in a team |
| 3 | Team Communication | Establish team norms, build trust and put communication channels in place |
| 4 | Leadership | Identify your style, communicate with confidence and inspire others to act |
| 5 | Listen Actively | Learn focused listening and asking questions to control and manage conversations |
| 6 | Resolve Conflicts | Know how to find mutual requirements, identify needs and reach the best solution |
| 7 | Manage Meetings | Learn how to plan and prepare for meetings to get productive outcomes |
| 8 | Deal with Difficult People | Prevent issues from escalating, manage difficult situations and use the 3-step resolution process |
| 9 | Deliver Criticism | Use the feedback sandwich method to offer criticism constructively |
| 10 | Manage Diversity in Teams | Understand stereotypes, create an inclusive environment and put a system in place for diversity complaints |
Sources
[i] https://hbswk.hbs.edu/item/the-importance-of-teaming
[ii] https://www.forbes.com/sites/quora/2013/01/23/why-and-where-is-teamwork-important/#6e6d6c2a287a