My life, my focus and my passion centers on this concept: that we can impact culture through the development of creative ideas and creative communications. While the road to developing creative solutions begins with passion, it also requires a rich set of skills, knowledge and unique experiences. In most cases though, if you want to change the world, if you want to impact culture in a positive way, it also requires a high functioning team of passionate, committed individuals, working together and moving forward together toward a common goal. I believe Margaret Mead’s quote sums it up pretty well:
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”
In my experiences in leading, managing and participating in teams, I’ve discovered a number of variables that lead to the success of a team. Below are five team attributes (from the book The Five Dysfunctions of a Team) that I have tried to use in some form or another in building and maintaining high performing teams.
1. Trust - In the context of the team, trust and confidence must exist around our intentions, our mission, our goals and objectives. We need to be willing to be vulnerable with each other, to be open to input and feedback from each other, and recognize that everyone on the team has something to contribute.
2. Constructive Conflict - I believe that all strong teams and any good relationship for that matter, the ones that last over time, require constructive conflict in order to grow. This is true in marriage, parenthood, friendship, and the workplace as well as with high performing teams. Demonstrating and teaching the emotional intelligence to embrace opposing thoughts and constructive conflict is important to the health and productivity of the team.
3. Commitment - There needs to be a common commitment to achieving the end goal. There needs to be clarity and buy-in from every member of the team. That doesn’t mean there is always consensus and certainty. However, at the end of the day, the team needs to be moving forward together toward that common commitment.
4. Accountability - Goals and milestones need to be tracked, and the team needs to be willing to hold each other accountable for achieving those goals. We must hold each other to a higher standard.
5. Results Oriented - We need to embrace the collective results of the team. It should be an unrelenting, collaborative focus on specific objectives and clearly defined outcomes. The team needs to be achievement and results oriented as a team, not just as individuals.
