Businesses automatically create internal teams as they grow as it becomes more difficult to manage larger numbers of people. This organic growth can work during the early stages of growth however it often results in unbalanced and isolated groups.
Performing teams will provide the following benefits:
- Internal team motivation and retention. Effective teams have lower individual staff turnover than not performing ones due to the internal culture that everyone creates and reinforces over time.
- Resilience. Whilst business changes occur, performing teams are able to remain objective and support themselves without direct management assistance
- Self Preservation. Performing teams will quickly raise any issues that will impact the their working efficiency and environment directly with influencers.
- Self Management. A team culture defines how individuals want to work. This is not necessarily fully defined but is felt by the individuals. Anyone who’s behaviour does not fit with this culture, maybe not pulling their weight and feels a pressure to perform or adapt their behaviour.
- Development. A cohesive group of like minded individuals will naturally look for improvements to both business and team working
What is your true potential?
Many companies are comprised of different teams and to the leadership group they look like, act like and perform as teams. The question the senior management should be asking is whether each team is really performing to its potential. If they are not then the directors need to know what and how to change this situation.
Every underperforming team will be impacting the business somehow with the end result being lower profits or not achieving the overall goals.
The challenge for directors and owners is that they have very often been the founding members and the teams have grown around them. Being objective as to what is right and wrong is really difficult and this is where an external viewpoint can help identify areas of weakness and guide you on how to make the relevant changes.
