17.02 – Building a Team of Sharks
Teams are a powerful way to achieve exceptional results, even from average individual employees. With effective teamwork, a small firm can raise its efficiency to world-class standards. Some small businesses have built their entire success around teams.
However, a group of people working together isn’t necessarily a team. A successful sports team, for instance, has the right number of players with clearly defined roles, a coach to train and improve performance, and measurable goals. In contrast, a typical small firm might have an inconsistent number of workers, undefined roles, and unclear objectives. Successful teams share common features such as:
- A good balance of team members with complementary skills and talents
- A size appropriate to the task
- Appropriate resources
- Clear objectives
- Strong and effective leadership
- Open communication
- The ability to work collectively
- The authority to act quickly on decisions
Just as an orchestra relies on the combined efforts of all its musicians, a business thrives on the combined talents of its team members.
Founding Principles
Successful teams share common principles:
- Balanced Team Roles: Each team member must have a valuable role. Meredith Belbin's team role evaluation system identifies key team profiles essential for a well-functioning team:
- Chairperson/Team Leader: Focuses on objectives and guides the team.
- Plant: Originates ideas but may miss out on details.
- Resource Investigator: Strong on networks and external contacts.
- Shaper: Unites ideas, objectives, and possibilities.
- Company Worker: Practical organizer who adapts to established systems.
- Monitor Evaluator: Provides measured analysis.
- Team Worker: Builds on others’ ideas and maintains team harmony.
- Finisher: Ensures thorough follow-through and order.
- Shared Vision and Goal: Team members must have ownership of measurable and clearly defined goals. This involves involving the team in business planning and maintaining open communication through meetings, social events, and bulletin boards.
- Shared Language: Team members need to understand business terminology to contribute effectively. Explaining terms like return on capital employed or debtor days ensures everyone understands their importance and impact.
- Compatible Personalities: While having different team profiles is important, team members must also get along, listen to and respect each other's ideas, support and trust one another, and work through conflicts.
- Good Leadership: First-class leadership distinguishes winning teams from the rest. Without strong leadership, a team can quickly disintegrate into a disorganized group.
Appraising Performance
Appraising the performance of both teams and individuals focuses on development rather than blame, reward, or praise. The goal is to help people perform better and achieve their career goals, resulting in a personal development plan. Successful appraisals are:
- Results-Oriented: Start with a review against objectives and finish by setting goals for the coming year. Set intermediate goals for new staff even if final goals aren’t immediately clear.
- Separate from Salary Review: Salary discussions can hinder open and frank conversations. Conduct salary reviews and appraisals as separate events, preferably at different times of the year.
- Narratives: Instead of tick boxes and ratings, appraisals should involve discussions about achievements, areas for improvement, overall performance, training and development, and career expectations.
Allocate ample time for each appraisal interview, typically one and a half hours. Conduct appraisals in a non-threatening setting free from interruptions. Perform appraisals at least once a year, with more frequent quarterly reviews. For new staff, conduct a review after three months. Use appraisals to identify training needs and incorporate them into a personal or company-wide training plan.
The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) offers forms to help conduct appraisals and provide feedback. You can download up to three appraisal templates for free after registering on their site. Learn more about conducting effective appraisals at CIPD.
