Achieve More with Team Dynamics
When a team completes their objective, create smooth workflow, make the right decisions, etc. it is all because that team has good team dynamics. Having good team dynamics allows a team to be successful and having a bad one hinders the team in achieve their goals. Creating good team dynamics is not an easy process and in this article we will go over the steps for building a team with good dynamics.
What is Team Dynamics?
Team dynamics are unconscious psychological forces that influence a team’s behaviour and performance. These stem from the interactions and impact from the team’s varying personalities, roles, behaviours. A good dynamics improve things like a team’s creativity, productivity, and effectiveness.
How to boost team dynamics
There are 6 ways to improve a team’s dynamics :
Conduct a diagnosis and get to know your team
Conducting a diagnosis on what is going wrong with your team allows you to spot symptoms of poor team dynamics and help come up with a solution to them. Observing how your team works, conducting individual interviews in a private, safe, confidential space, talking to relevant people allows you to spot signs of poor team dynamics such as:
- Weak leadership — lack of strong leadership can result in lack of direction and conflict.
- Authority and groupthink — Overbearing authority and groupthink can result in stagnation of innovative ideas and opinions.
- Free riding — some team members having it easy while others having to pick up the slack can result in poor dynamics.
and other causes of bad team dynamics. Take time to observe, talk, and figure out what is happening amongst the team.
Address problems quickly
If a team member is engaging in unproductive behaviour, address it quickly. Speaking directly and inviting them to reflect on the behaviour and how to change it support the team’s goals. Encouraging open discussion of conflicts that may arise and guide them to a resolution allows your team regain a healthy state of dynamics.
Creating a team charter
Having a team charter offer clearly defined roles and motivates team members to uphold their responsibilities and work together more effectively. Knowing other team members will do their part of the job also helps to build trust.
Enhance team culture
Create a supportive team culture. Have team-building exercises to encourage stronger relationships between team members. Value diversity and build trust and respect among team members.
Build Communication
Give your team communication tools and encourage team members to communicate. Keep every team member updated and make sure the quieter team feel their voices are heard so that everyone feel included.
Always pay attention
Keeping good team dynamics is maintenance work so as part of your group’s leadership, you should keep paying attention and know what is going on. As a leader be prepared to continue providing your team with the leadership and training they need to thrive.
Servant Leadership
Servant leadership is a team first originated in Robert Greenleaf’s 1970 essay. A method of leadership that flips the usual scheme by putting people ahead of power. A servant leader prioritizes the team’s growth and welfare over their own. This way the team feel empowered and perform at a higher level.
These are the best practices to become a great servant leader:
1. Desire to serve
Being a servant leader starts with the will to serve their staff, which in turn serves and benefits the organization at large.
2. Talent development
A servant leader keeps continual focus on their team’s talent development. One of the way to enhance the team’s talent is to selectively relinquish power so that they can lead and take initiatives or leverage a team member’s strength by giving them tasks they are most passionate about.
3. Ask questions and listen closely
Servant leaders primarily build relationships by asking questions and listening closely. If a team member is struggling, leaders should ask questions about what might be hindering them and then listening closely to understand.
4. Encourage
A hallmark of good servant leader is encouragement. Good servant leaders are continuously show encouragement in an egalitarian attitude. When a team member makes mistakes a servant engages in respectful discussion and trust in the team member to make needed adjustments.
5. Trust
Trust is prerequisite for servant leaders. Practicing servant leadership generates trust among the team and may inspire other team members knowing that their their leader has their best interests in mind.
Conclusion
There no one formulaic way to create good team dynamics. Employing methods aforementioned may not always fit your team but is important to adapt to the chemistry of the team members. Practicing servant leadership also helps keeping up the good team dynamics.
