Five Evidence-Based Ways To Optimize Your Teamwork
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Transcript of Five Evidence-Based Ways To Optimize Your Teamwork
Is Your Team making You sick?5 surefire remedies for bad teamwork blues
“Strength in numbers” is a popular saying but not universally true
If it was, then why do teams composed of equally talented, intelligent, creative, business-savvy people fail anyway?
One would think that having all that skill at the same table would be the surefire key to success
But many times it isn’t.
Luckily for us, a great body of research is shedding light into the dynamics of a well-run team
And is showing us how combat those teamwork blues
1. Dive Into the Idea Pool
The biggest strength of a team is that each member brings a unique viewpoint to the table
But each individual perspective has the potential to be overthrown by the opinion of one dominant member or the majority of the group
Remedy: Before anything else, have each member write down and share their initial thoughts and ideas before any group work happens
2. Test Drive Your Team
Just because a task calls for a team effort doesn’t mean you shouldn’t pay attention to each individual
Because a group of talented individuals doesn’t necessarily equal a team that works well
“being known as a problem solver is a good thing. But when people start looking at you to put out their fires… that is different. They will keep coming back and you will soon be an expected service.
Remedy: Find members who score higher in “social sensitivity,” or the ability to read people’s emotions
3. Mix Up Membership
In general, a team that has performed well together in the past will also perform well in the future
But this scenario makes a team prone to “groupthink”
Groupthink occurs when the desire for a harmonious group dynamic results in incorrect and inappropriate decision-making
Remedy: Periodically infuse your team with fresh blood. This will also lead to a sustained level of creativity and innovation
4. Throw a Pre-mortem Party
Many teams fail because members become isolated and inward-looking
Make sure that your team is always aware of how external factors can affect the work plan or work flow
Remedy: A pre-mortem is a form of “ritualized dissent,” in which individual members are asked to visualize the project as having already failed, analyze why, and come up with solutions
5. Be On the Clock
Don’t forget that the time your team spends together isn’t free
Because the time your best people spend talking, planning, and brainstorming is time they spend NOT executing
Remedy: Make sure your meetings begin and end on time. Meetings held standing up instead of sitting down are also foundto be 34% shorter on average
So if your team has been making you want to call in sick
These easy remedies should be just what you need
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