Toojays Blog

Its a question a lot of managers and team leaders have found themselves asking.

There's a vast amount of Team Building theory and team development models out there and its often difficult to know your Belbins from your (Myers) Briggs!

So cutting through the Adair, Lencioni, SDI, Insight, Tuckmans Forming, Storming, Norming and Performing and many other models, Lee Martin MD of Toojays gives his view on the essential requirements for making your team gel.

"The pressure to create high performing teams that really do deliver is ever increasing. In order to deliver the team must work well and be cohesive. So how do you achieve this? Well whilst there are plenty of models that will help you analyse and assess it really comes down to just FIVE simple steps.

1. Vision

You need to establish a clear vision,direction or goal for the team to work towards. A common understanding of what they are all trying to achieve.By painting the bigger picture they can understand the importance of their specific role within the team, and relate to its integral part in delivering what ever the teams output is. 

2. Roles

Each individual should have a clearly defined role. They should each know what is expected of them, and their parameters of operation. That's to say what they can and can't do within their role. This is particularly important  in empowering them and creating a sense of value, purpose and motivation. 

3. Skills

You should ensure that each member has the necessary skills and tools to carry out the role expected of them. If they don't how can they be expected to deliver? Never under estimate the importance of interpersonal skills in this instance. A lot can be achieved by utilising your EQ and a good network. Ultimately team members should know what support is available to develop their skills and equip them to perform to the optimum level.

4. Reward

Probably the biggest factor that gets forgotten in so many teams is the need to celebrate sucess. Which is a shame as it's the simplest to carry out! A simple well done or pat on the back can go a long way to ensure morale and motivation remain high and the drive to continue to perform stays with the team. If you are looking to present the team with tangible benefits or rewards make sure they match what the Team value..and not what you think they will value! Example...Cakes bought for the team member who hadn't told anyone they were on a diet! Or drinks bought for the tee totaller!

5. Re-align

It's a myth that a team ever really reaches its High Performance Target...as the reality for a really effective team is that the target gets moved. As performance starts to peak you should be looking to re-align the team, setting ever increasingly stretching targets and goals...and of course then following the Steps 1 - 4 again!"

For more information on how to gel your team and achieve a High Performing Team take a look at our Team Building services Toojays Team Building