Every organization consists of groups of people ... But when are you really a team? Whether it is a department or a project team, the common goal is not always clear enough. And you as a leader or coach have the task of ensuring that the team is behind the goal and actively participates in achieving the group goal. Sometimes easier said than done....
An almost invisible enemy: distrust
Distrust is not easy to recognize. It creeps in, so to speak, and then settles into the corporate culture. And while this is probably not an easy read, sometimes the cause of this distrust lies with the leaders. This is also what makes self-reflection so important for leaders.
Often you can sense an undercurrent, but it's hard to put your finger on it exactly. Fortunately, there are some clear signs of distrust.
Signs of distrust
Examine whether the signals below occur in your organization.
- Emails go en masse in cc to executives.
- You are surrounded by yes-men and no-doers.
- Information is not shared.
- You hear only positive stories and never receive criticism or backlash.
- Commitment & initiative is lacking.
Team performance: make it more fun, it pays off
People often invest in "fun team building activities". Also super fun and especially fun but whether the cooperation and mutual communication will really improve after a day on the beer skelter, foot golf or boat trip?
And certainly, knowing, appreciating and (being able to) trust each other is THE foundation of powerful teamwork. So above all, let's keep doing fun things as teams. Not just because it's fun, but mainly because good teamwork contributes most to a company's competitiveness.
The power of vulnerability
Back to the foundation; how does trust emerge within teams. The biggest challenge is to overcome our need to be invulnerable. Pretty tough, because in our society today, we learn through training and in our careers to be competitive with peers and, above all, to protect our own reputation.
But Effective and Talent-Based Leadership makes all the difference in team development. As a leader of a team, it is effective in making you vulnerable and encouraging you to shelve socially desirable and political behavior.
If I make more mistakes than you, I win!
How effective is it for your personal development as a leader if your team points out your mistakes and weaknesses without fear of reprisal? And how much better do business processes run if mistakes or weaknesses are not covered up, but are known openly and openly. Only then can you act and innovate.
Embrace noise & hassle
Be careful if there are no debates during your meetings. As soon as things get political and there are no debates, something else is going on. If everyone avoids conflicts, it increases the chances of dangerous tensions. So pierce that blister!
And -just a question of reflection- as a leader, do you perhaps intervene too quickly in conflicts? Instead, let it happen, noise and fuss! In this way, team members themselves develop skills to deal with conflict in a healthier way. Those skills are necessary and productive. Besides ... if there is nothing to disagree about, you don't really need to have meetings, right?
Bonus: reading and watching tips to make you happy (trust me)
Getting started? Get inspired with these reading and watching tips.
- The 5 frustrations of teamwork, Patrick Lencioni.
- The Power of Vulnerability, Brené Brown.
- Doing is the best way to think, Free Thinkers (video).
Make team performance better, it pays off even more
Trust is the foundation for powerful teamwork. In addition, there are other elements that can promote rock-solid teamwork. Do you think your team is not yet playing champions league? Can you get more out of it? Then we would like to be your co-trainer.
Let Team Supporter guide you. Independently or supported with a coach.
