How Effective is Your Team?

Mind Tools Newsletter 78 - 10th Jul 2007 This newsletter is published by Mind Tools Ltd of 2nd Floor, 145-157 St John Street, London, EC1V 4PY, UK. You have received it because you have subscribed to our double opt-in newsletter. To subscribe or unsubscribe, just click the links at the bottom of this email.

Contents: What's New? Team Effectiveness Assessment A Final Note

This week we're focusing on team effectiveness. But before I introduce today's newsletter article, I want to say a huge "thank you" to everyone who contributed by telling us about their "little gem" tools and techniques, in response to our request in the last newsletter!

As always, we have a great stream of resources planned for the coming months, and it's all the better for all your great suggestions! The team here at Mind Tools works very hard to research new content and fresh ideas to interest and benefit our readers. And it's wonderful to have so many of our newsletter readers contribute to this Mind Tools team effort!

We offered a pri*ze for the best contribution. It was incredibly difficult to choose from so many great suggestions however, after much debate, we finally chose two contributors as winners. Our winners are Iain Barraclough and Rory O'Connor - thanks to both of you for the many excellent ideas you sent in!

And a big thank you too to everyone who contacted us - there were many excellent suggestions!

What's New?

Today's featured article helps you assess the effectiveness of your team. Take our 15 question quiz to help you figure how well your team is working, and what you can do to become more effective. Based on your results, we help you find some other great Mind Tools resources to help your team reach its true potential.

Our other new article this week on the Mind Tools site also helps with team effectiveness. Benne and Sheats' Team Role model helps you evaluate team behavior and roles that need to be fulfilled to meet the team's objectives. (Team effectiveness and team behavior are popular topics in our members' area, the Career Excellence Club, where members discuss their team challenges and offer mutual support.)

Enjoy the team effectiveness quiz, and here's to even better team working as a result!

  

James & Rachel

James Manktelow and Rachel Thompson
MindTools.com
Mind Tools – Essential skills for an excellent career!

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New Article

Team Effectiveness Assessment

How well do you and your team work together?

Teamwork has a dramatic affect on organizational performance. An effective team can help an organization achieve incredible results. A team that is not working can cause unnecessary disruption, failed delivery and strategic failure.

Nowadays it is almost impossible to avoid being a member of team. If you're not on an official team at work, chances are you function within one in one way or another. So it's important for your personal and career development to know your teamworking strengths and weaknesses.

Our assessment helps you uncover common teamworking problems that you might be experiencing. Once you've completed the assessment, we direct you towards team tools that will help you to improve and develop these important skills.

The better you are able to link these factors together, the higher the motivation levels of your team are likely to be. That’s a win-win for you, them, and the organization.

How good are you and your team at teamwork and team building?

Use our online quiz by clicking here, or print this out and take the quiz on paper.

Instructions: (To take the quiz on paper)

For each question, circle the answer in the column that most applies. When you have completed the 15 questions, transfer your scores to score calculation box in each of the team effectiveness sections below.

Note that some of the questions are scored from 1-5 (low to high) and other from 5-1 (high to low). Please score based on the column headings, not the numbers. We'll use these later!

Please note: This tool uses an informal approach to assessing team effectiveness, designed to help you quickly 'zero in' on tools that may help you. While it may be intuitively useful, it has not been validated through controlled scientific tests. Please, therefore, treat results as indicative, and interpret results with common sense.

© Mind Tools Ltd, 2007.

Take the test and apply the things you learn from it. You could well see the performance of your team soar!

How Good Are Your Motivation Skills?

Take the online test below, and click the 'Calculate my total' button at the foot of the test the assess your motivation skills.

© Mind Tools Ltd, 2008.

Question		Not at all	Rarely	Some times	A Lot	Very Much
1.	My team is knowledgeable about the stages of development teams can be expected to go through.	1	2	3	4	5
2.	Team members are provided with a great deal of feedback regarding their performance.	1	2	3	4	5
3.	Team members are encouraged to work for the common good of the organization.	1	2	3	4	5
4.	There are many complaints, and morale is low on my team.	5	4	3	2	1
5.	Team members don’t understand the decisions that are made, or don’t agree with them.	5	4	3	2	1
6.	People are encouraged to be good team members, and build good relationships.	1	2	3	4	5
7.	Team members are provided with development opportunities.	1	2	3	4	5
8.	Meetings are inefficient and there is a lot of role overlap.	5	4	3	2	1
9.	Team members are encouraged to commit to the team vision, and leaders help them understand how their role fits into the big picture.	1	2	3	4	5
10.	Team members are often given a chance to work on interesting tasks and stretch their knowledge and capabilities.	1	2	3	4	5
11.	The team understands what it needs to accomplish and has the resources needed to be successful.	1	2	3	4	5
12.	Conflict and hostility between members is a pervasive issue that doesn’t seem to get better.	5	4	3	2	1
13.	People feel that good work is not rewarded and they are not sure what is expected of them.	5	4	3	2	1
14.	Team members balance their individual needs for autonomy with the benefits of mutual interdependence.	1	2	3	4	5
15.	Working relationships across units or functions is poor, and there is a lack of coordination.	5	4	3	2	1

Score Interpretation

Now add up the scores you've circled.

My team score overall is:

out of 75

Score	Comment
46-75	You're a solid team member working well as part of an effective team. Lower scores in this range show that there is room for improvement, though. Read the following summaries of key teamwork functions and determine which of the tools will help you become a better team player and build a stronger team.
31-45	Your effectiveness as a team player and your team's effectiveness are patchy. You're good at some things, but there's room for improvement elsewhere. Focus on the serious issues below, and you'll most likely find that you and your team are soon achieving more.
15-30	This is worrying. The good news is that you've got a great opportunity to improve your effectiveness as a team member, and the effectiveness of your team. Start below!

Team Development (Questions 1, 11)

	Score
Question 1
Question 11
Total	Out of 10

Teams do not become effective overnight. Team building is a process that requires due attention and care. If you try to skip over important development stages, you risk not forming the solid foundation needed when trouble or setbacks occur.

To build, lead, or participate in a team requires an understanding of the stages of team development. Through extensive research, it has been found that successful teams have certain aspects of their development paths in common. The one that most people are aware of is Tuckman’s Forming, Storming, Norming, and Performing (s) (s=subscriber article) model.

Two other factors that significantly increase a team’s chances of being effective are having a well thought out team orientation process, and developing a clear team charter. Both of these help you establish clear guidelines and set clear expectations. When the individuals on a team all know what they are supposed to be doing and how they are to go about doing it, you give the team a good start on maximizing performance. To read more about these processes see the Mind Tools articles on Successful Induction (s) and Team Charters.

Feedback (Questions 2, 13)

	Score
Question 2
Question 13
Total	Out of 10

One of the best ways of improving people's performance is by providing information to team members about their individual performance, as well as the overall team performance. After all, how do you know what is working and what isn't if no one gives you an objective summary?

There are usually plenty of people around who are ready and willing to give you their opinions on this. Unfortunately, this information is often conveyed in a manner that causes resentment and animosity.

For feedback to be positive and growth-inspiring, it has to be delivered properly, with enough attention being paid to how the receiver is going to perceive and process it. To learn more on giving feedback, see our articles on Giving and Receiving Feedback (s), The GROW Model, and 360° Feedback (s).

Participation and Articulating Vision (Questions 3, 9, 10)

	Score
Question 3
Question 9
Question 10
Total	Out of 15

Articulating the team's vision is fundamental to developing a high performing team. It's the vision that motivates and directs a team to reach its goal.

The best teams invest a great deal of time and energy into exploring and understanding the overall purpose and vision of the team. From this vision, a set of goals and objectives emerges that helps the team stay focused and on track.

The key to using vision successfully is making the process of discovering it a participative one. You can tell a team what the vision is and team members may or may not agree that the cause is worth working hard for. If, however, you allow the team to explore the vision, to see how their specific roles fit into the big picture, and provide meaningful opportunities for team members to assist in the team's success, then you have the basis for a high performing team.

To learn more about tying vision to goals see Performance Management and KPIs (s) The Balanced Scorecard, and Management By Objectives (s). To learn where you sit on the participative management scale, see the article on the The Blake-Mouton Managerial Grid. The articles on Avoiding Micromanagement and Successful Delegation discuss why it is important to provide challenges to your team members and allow them to use their skills and abilities to the fullest.

Team Member Development (Questions 7, 12)

	Score
Question 7
Question 12
Total	Out of 15

Teams do not become effective overnight. Team building is a process that requires due attention and care. If you try to skip over important development stages, you risk not forming the solid foundation needed when trouble or setbacks occur.

To build, lead, or participate in a team requires an understanding of the stages of team development. Through extensive research, it has been found that successful teams have certain aspects of their development paths in common. The one that most people are aware of is Tuckman’s Forming, Storming, Norming, and Performing (s) (s=subscriber article) model.

Two other factors that significantly increase a team’s chances of being effective are having a well thought out team orientation process, and developing a clear team charter. Both of these help you establish clear guidelines and set clear expectations. When the individuals on a team all know what they are supposed to be doing and how they are to go about doing it, you give the team a good start on maximizing performance. To read more about these processes see the Mind Tools articles on Successful Induction (s) and Team Charters.

Feedback (Questions 2, 13)

	Score
Question 2
Question 13
Total	Out of 10

One of the best ways of improving people's performance is by providing information to team members about their individual performance, as well as the overall team performance. After all, how do you know what is working and what isn’t if no one gives you an objective summary?

There are usually plenty of people around who are ready and willing to give you their opinions on this. Unfortunately, this information is often conveyed in a manner that causes resentment and animosity.

For feedback to be positive and growth-inspiring, it has to be delivered properly, with enough attention being paid to how the receiver is going to perceive and process it. To learn more on giving feedback, see our articles on Giving and Receiving Feedback (s), The GROW Model, and 360° Feedback (s).

Participation and Articulating Vision (Questions 3, 9, 10)

	Score
Question 3
Question 9
Question 10
Total	Out of 15

Articulating the team's vision is fundamental to developing a high performing team. It's the vision that motivates and directs a team to reach its goal.

The best teams invest a great deal of time and energy into exploring and understanding the overall purpose and vision of the team. From this vision, a set of goals and objectives emerges that helps the team stay focused and on track.

The key to using vision successfully is making the process of discovering it a participative one. You can tell a team what the vision is and team members may or may not agree that the cause is worth working hard for. If, however, you allow the team to explore the vision, to see how their specific roles fit into the big picture, and provide meaningful opportunities for team members to assist in the team’s success, then you have the basis for a high performing team.

To learn more about tying vision to goals see Performance Management and KPIs (s) The Balanced Scorecard, and Management By Objectives (s). To learn where you sit on the participative management scale, see the article on the The Blake-Mouton Managerial Grid. The articles on Avoiding Micromanagement and Successful Delegation discuss why it is important to provide challenges to your team members and allow them to use their skills and abilities to the fullest.

Managing Conflict (Questions 2, 12, 14)

	Score
Question 2
Question 12
Question 14
Total	Out of 15

Conflict can be an inevitable consequence of working with other people. Opinions, values, styles, and a whole host of other differences provide more than enough grounds for disagreement. This disagreement is actually part of the reason why teams can be so effective - the more perspectives that go into a process, the better the end result. usually!

Allowing the differences to get out of hand, though, causes unnecessary disruption and leads to breakdowns in working relationships. Team members and leaders should take it upon themselves to understand the basics of conflict management and also learn more about different styles and ways of thinking and working.

For more information on effectively managing conflict, see Managing Conflict, Theory X. Theory Y (s) and Role Playing (s).

Group Roles and Structure (Questions 6, 8, 14, 15)

	Score
Question 6
Question 8
Question 14
Question 15
Total	Out of 20

The differences between how people work and view the world make for interesting conversations and dynamic teams. An effective team capitalizes on these natural differences and maximizes performance by putting the right people in the right roles.

The articles on RACI (s) and Task Allocation discuss this exact issue and provide practical methods for getting the most out of your team.

Some research has also been done on the different types of roles people play within teams. While the jury is still out on the detail of this research, having insight into the types of roles that are taken on in teams can help you see which roles and behaviors are constructive and which ones aren’t. Mind Tools has featured two such models of team roles: Belbin’s Team Roles and Benne and Sheats' Team Roles.

Team Member Development (Questions 7, 12)

	Score
Question 7
Question 12
Total	Out of 10

No matter what role a person plays in a team, or what tasks he or she has been assigned to, there is always room for personal improvement. When the individuals on a team are functioning at high capacity, the team can flourish as well.

This is a critical understanding in team performance. Although there is no "I" in "Team" you have to remember there is no team without individuals. You have to build and foster the skills in the individuals that are congruent with the needs of the team.

To do this, requires a solid understanding of training methods and ways of identifying the needs of the team members. The article on Successful Induction (s) talks about setting out a training needs analysis from day one. The articles on Understanding Developmental Needs (s) and Training Needs Assessment (s) provide practical tips for identifying areas that need improvement.

Understanding and Collaboration (Questions 5, 14)

	Score
Question 5
Question 14
Total	Out of 10

The last area of team functioning explored by this quiz covers how well you and your team are able to collaborate and understand the key issues facing the team. Again, this goes back to the idea of cohesion. Members of successful teams all head in the same direction, and work for the same purpose.

When priorities and goals diverge, tensions appear within the team, and the whole is often no longer greater than the sum of its parts. This is a fundamental issue for high performing teams. Consensus, consistency and agreement are vital for effective teamwork.

Even if your test score didn’t point to this aspect of teamwork, the articles on Concept Attainment (s) and the Delphi Technique (s) are highly recommended.

Key points:

An effective team is much more than a bunch of people thrown together to accomplish a goal. Because teams are such an inherent part of how we work, it is easy to believe we know what makes a team perform well, however this is often not the case.

Using this test, you can uncover areas of improvement that will help you become a better overall team member and team builder.

The Mind Tools Store:

• How to Lead: Discover the Leader Within You: Learn the 48 simple but essential skills you need to become a truly effective leader. More >>
  
  
• The Mind Tools E-book: The main tools on the Mind Tools website in one convenient, easily-downloadable, easily-printable PDF file. We have excluded advertising to enhance clarity and have formatted sections to be easy to read, print and use. More >>
  
  
• The Career Excellence Club (The Mind Tools members' area): Make career development an every-day part of your life with member-only discussion forums, the Mind Tools Extended Toolkit (featuring many more important thinking skills), downloadable MP3-based Book Insights and Interviews, regular coaching, training, and much, much more. More >>
  

A Final Note from James

Team working, for most of us, is a truly essential skill. Effective team working is often one of the most important assets your team or organization can build. We hope you enjoyed taking the quiz, and also that you'll take some time to reflect on the many possibilities for making your team even better. Even a winning team has room for improvement, and there's nothing like the satisfaction of success when know you are constantly striving to be the very best.

We'll be back with more new and tools next week, and a feature on smart goal setting. Until then, here's to a great next two weeks for you and your team!

James Manktelow

James Manktelow

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