Team dynamics exists whether you focus on them or not. They evolve naturally and through the forming, storming, norming stage. Whether you reach performing is not an accident though. Most teams, without intervention or strategy, get stuck in norming. The dynamics can prevent you from ever achieving high performance.
The dynamic of your group is extremely important because it influences positively or negatively the team’s creativity, productivity and trust. As a leader, if you take care of your team and nurture a healthy team dynamic, reminding yourself that you both lead, and operate as a team member. By paying attention to team dynamics, you will benefit not only the results of the team, but the organisation as a whole. High achieving organisations acknowledge and invest in team dynamics and, therefore, create a culture that encourages uniqueness in teamwork. When you create a culture of collaboration and acceptance, this will lead to healthy interactions and motivation, and will benefit each team member, the team as a whole, as well as the projects they’re working on.
How it Works
One of the key elements of positive team dynamics is a shared purpose. Each member understands why the team exists. It is the differentiator between a team and a group of people. They come together to achieve a common goal, rather than a group of individuals working independently. This creates a sense of belonging and loyalty within the team.
High trust is another key element. Members wholeheartedly trust one another and the leader. The leader invests in trust building and calls out behaviour which harms trust. Members do not fear sharing ideas, knowledge or asking for help. They trust that their members want to achieve the purpose as much as they do, therefore operate in a way to achieve it.
Admitting mistakes, embracing failure and saying sorry is critical. You want team members to push boundaries, try new things and continuously improve. That doesn't come without risk. Owning them, sharing the learning or asking for advice means the whole team moves forward. There is no room for ego, pride or hiding.
Teams that are diverse and inclusive usually perform better. Whether it's diverse personalities, education, gender, race, age or sexuality, diverse groups trump homogeneous groups. You gain different skills, perspectives and ideas. Of course it can create conflict, but healthy conflict is to be encouraged.
Decision making is participative. Everyone weighs in to the debates and shares ideas and perspectives. They test each others methods and challenge each other to find the truth, the best answer. They might not initially agree on the decision, but once they have explored every possible solution, they commit to the decision, whether made by the leader, or as a group.
To ensure the success of your organisation, it is no secret that the key is engaged employees. When your team is fully engaged and aligned, they have a better chance of achieving their goals. It is true that the road to success will not be as smooth as everyone believes, but with the right people beside you, you have every chance to get where you want to. Remember the behaviours, values and psychological factors I mentioned in the Introduction to Team Dynamics? As a leader, you will have to be aware that your team members are not only influenced by what is happening in the workplace, but also outside the workplace.
Benefits of positive team dynamics :
Case study
British Touring Car
I had the privilege to observe a British Touring Car team, Team Dynamics, during a race weekend. It was noisy, pressurised and everyone needed to deliver their peak performance during the race weekend. There was no room for error. In these pressure pots, I normally see cracks in team behaviours, but not in this team. The behaviour was professional, and they communicated clearly. They took instruction from the team manager via earpieces and acted on any instructions using their expertise and knowledge.
Everyone knew what their role was and stayed in their own lane.
I asked the driver, Dan Cammish, what was going on in his mind when his car failed and he waited as the mechanics repaired his car in the pits – knowing that all the time he was losing precious qualifying time. He said he just focused on his game. He totally trusted the others to do their job and send him back out when it was safe to do so. His life was in their hands and he totally trusted them.
How many of you can say that about your teammates?
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