An extremely critical area of effective teamwork is group trust. There are many signs that a group lacks trust – complaining, vicious criticism and backbiting. Less obvious indicators include employees conforming to the group with a reluctance to try anything new or a politeness without disclosing critical information. You constantly have to be on the lookout for these signs.
There are things you can do to foster group trust. Undersell your ability to accomplish something, and then over-deliver. For example, if you can get data that you’re sure will solve a problem, tell the group that you might be able to add insight concerning the current project, and then provide your special information the following week. The group will be surprised and won’t feel that you’re trying to steal the whole show. Display an enthusiastic attitude; do not hesitate to give credit to others; and do not hide information.
Some characteristics of a good teamwork dynamics include:
- Goals and expectations that are clearly understood, agreed upon and expected by all.
- Open and relaxed communication about issues that affect team performance.
- Shared credit and recognition for team accomplishments.
The following tenets will ensure great teamwork:
- Leave your bad mood outside of the meeting room; politely participate in the discussion.
- Ask other teammates, especially less talkative ones, for their opinions.
- Rotate leadership; this can be a tremendous growth experience.
- If someone gets on your nerves, let him or her know immediately. Explain specifically why you are annoyed and how it makes you feel. Ask the person to help you improve the situation.
- Weaken the resolve of those who damage trust. Persuade them to focus their energy on finding a resolution to which all team members can agree.
- Commit to making a difference. This can result in an extremely effective team.
- Relax. A team can be a pressure cooker that builds up too much stress and tension to accomplish anything. Take a break, change members and switch projects.