Developing Energized Work Teams – Part 1

 
Is there anything better than being on a work team that “clicks,” that takes advantage of each team member’s talent and capabilities, that self-organizes to really get things done? And is there anything worse than being on a team that can’t seem to overcome their differences, doesn’t develop a clear sense of purpose, and doesn’t really accomplish the results they initially had in mind?

What’s the difference between those two teams?
That’s what we want to examine. That’s what we want to understand.

Teamwork is fundamental to business success. And work teams that really work are in complete alignment with the new awareness of human motivation, that is changing the way we think about work, the way we organize our work, and the way we do our work.

Being on a self-directed work team allows team members to experience one of the most important motivational drivers of the 21st Century, and that is…. autonomy. Working on teams allows team members to have a larger amount of control and influence over their work. It’s extremely motivating for employees to feel their opinions really count. On a work team that is more likely to be true.

Productive work teams don’t just happen. They have to be developed.

For teams to be energized and productive, they need to have…

• Rules of team engagement that everyone understands and agrees upon.
• A clear purpose.
• Goals the team members are clear about and care about.
• Authority to achieve results quickly and independently.

It’s amazing the level of self-sacrifice team members will contribute to the team’s efforts when they feel like they have a large say in how they’re going to work together. What you want is for team membership to increase each team member’s sense of being in charge of their own destiny.

It’s important for the team to establish rules for how they interact together.

A customer service team at Viscosity Oil in Willowbrook, Illinois, created and totally agreed to the following five rules as a code of team conduct…

• If you have a problem with another person, go directly to that person.
• Don’t ever put your finger in anyone else’s face.
• No back-stabbing – don’t say negative things about anyone.
• If someone comes to you with a problem, don’t share it with others.
• Come to work with a smile and keep it!

 
Remember, the team members themselves came up with these rules, and they all signed their names to a sheet that listed them. And they posted that sheet for all to see. This had a very positive effect on their ability to collaborate together and communicate with each other to get things done.
 
 
 
In our next article, part 2, on developing energized work teams, we’ll look at “the 5 Keys” a 3M VP discovered to be most important for productive team success.

Meanwhile, have yourself a great day.