What Makes a Poor Project Team vs a Highly Effective Team?

Part I, Definition and the basics of ineffective and effective teamsnnFirst let’s simply define what a team is: team members communicating face-to-face so that each member is aware of the presence of every other member on the team. n nWhen establishing a project team, keep in mind that a small team of just three could end up being a two against one situation, and a team of more than fourteen can lead to slow decision making with some members who might never get to give their input. Also, by definition members must be seated face-to-face. This is difficult when the team is too large, preventing some members from communicating effectively because of the seating arrangements. So, by simply forgetting about the basic formation of a team can lead to an ineffective team. So, to be highly effective the size of the team must be reasonable and the seating must be considered. nnSelecting team members should also be a thoughtful process taking into consideration many factors. Let’s explore this notion.nnThe person who is selecting the team must consider the needs of the group as it pertains to the common goal. Team members should be varied in their talents and have a willingness to both support and challenge others’ ideas. When the group is so alike and so cohesive that everyone agrees with everyone else, then the team may never arrive at the best solution. Challenging ideas must be done in a thoughtful and helpful manner so as not to discourage team members from being open and creative. Suggesting how an idea may be improved or asking for input from other tactful members of the group to comment on the idea may lessen the impact of challenging the idea. Additionally, team members should make the effort to find something positive in that idea—this will also lessen the impact of the challenge. Further, thanking the member for the suggestion can also encourage future input from that team member, and others on the team. A mix of creative, analytical, amiable and driver team members are all needed for successful project completion. n nAnother reason why teams are ineffective is that a common goal is rarely set at the beginning of a project. And once a team is formed, members immediately focus on solving the problem. Why does this happen? One reason is that time is usually a critical element so the team says “Why not just start solving the problem as soon as possible?” Well, for a number of reasons this is ineffective. First, with just a brief verbal or written statement of what has to be done, the team has not gained any sense of what to specifically focus on or how to get there.n nTo be highly effective, the team needs to establish a common goal. It is both necessary and the best way to focus on the direction that the team needs to go. This also ensures that each team member is focused on the goal and not on many other unrelated topics that may frustrate the team and waste a lot of time. Veering off the goal also allows the team to decide if they need to stop and refocus on the common goal; and usually the decision is to get back on track—saving time and eliminating frustration.