People Management
Characteristics of Productive Teams
Within the most productive teams:
- the team culture engenders trust, sharing, spontaneity, and risk taking
- members participate in setting specific, realistic goals; they agree with the goals and are committed to them
- team goals are as important as individual goals
- members contribute a diverse, yet appropriate, mix of skills and experiences
- members clearly understand their roles and shift responsibilities as needed
- the team has clearly identified norms for managing conflict
- intra-team competitiveness is managed
- all members feel empowered
- members are honest, straightforward, supportive, and tolerant of mistakes
- members are open to new ideas and perspectives, and are eager to do the right thing
- decision making is by consensus, rather than majority vote, when appropriate
- decisions are made on the basis of substance, not by the style or status of the individual proposing the idea
- communication includes all members, and a range of opinions is encouraged
- the team works constantly on improving its interactions as well as its performance.
