In effective teams, people learn from each other, support each other, help each other. Among less effective teams we see conflict and clashing agendas, taking without giving, and lukewarm commitment.

What makes our teams work?

Good teams identify exactly what needs to be accomplished and then draw upon the strengths of team members to brainstorm means and ends. There is a very clear ethos in such teams that every person brings value to the others and has ideas, experiences, and skills to share. The focus is not arguing one’s own perspectives but uncovering the value offered by each teammate. This creates a high level of interaction and engagement.

Not surprisingly, people who benefit most from teamwork are ones who seek teammates with complementary strengths... ones who will make them better. There are no “yes” people or “yes, but” people on effective teams, the key word is “and”. If one has all the answers, there is no need for a team!

A general rule I’ve found among successful teams is that everyone is better than everyone else at something... this is a good thing! Although it’s important to be professional about this and not egotistical. Teams that have identified each individual's strengths, will use this to their advantage and work on different elements of a task to reach the end goal collectively. In some workplaces this could mean having team members that are responsible for different areas of the business like marketing, finance, design, sales, planning and so on. This is not so different from athletic teams, where team members play particular positions to suit their strengths.

A major part of what makes teams work is unlocking the value within each member. That means that each member must be able to communicate their perspectives clearly and effectively.

Communication, communication, communication... this is vital for team working! Make time for your team mates, listen to what they have to say and communicate every step of the way.

So what is the bottom line? In effective teams, every member feels visible, valued and involved. This raises fresh questions for self-assessment: How visible, valued, and involved are you on your teams? How visible, valued, and involved are others in collaborating with you?