Fundamental Dynamics for Team Success

Abstract

We begin the chapter by stating that successful teams across all contexts—professional work teams, student groups, teams of volunteers, etc.—succeed, in part, due to a small number of characteristics embedded within those teams. Given the small number, even new managers can quickly learn to assess whether their teams possess those characteristics.

Three of those characteristics are relatively simple to assess within each individual team member. Are they open to sharing their thoughts and perspectives, even when doing so might be difficult? Are they supportive of other team members and show empathy to them? Are they inclusive in their behaviors, to other members (especially new ones), and to different ideas?

Three other characteristics are important to assess at the team level—the degree to which the team demonstrates them when interacting and working together. Does the team possess mutual accountability where each member feels accountable to every other member? Does the team embed both task and relationship roles, where members attend to accomplishing goals while also acting in ways that build social cohesion? Do team members show psychological safety by taking risks, sharing new ideas and trying new things, and disagreeing with others when necessary?

We discuss each of the above topics in turn within this chapter.