Five things that make a team great - Team Building, Training

With permission from a friend, thanks Jason Williams, he laid out five things that make groups irresistible to be a part of and also what made them great. They are not easy to implement but neither should you ignore them. When put into practice, you will see how connected a healthy team can be and push through any difficulty. Below you will find five things that make a team great.

Great Teams Are Intentional

Plan ahead – It communicates we are going somewhere. There is a destination and a purpose for being a team. To often, groups tend to chase squirrels and the time you had set up is now gone. Make a plan ahead of time and stick to it.
Follow Up – Checking in intentionally on assigned tasks or just life. Not every time you meet but at least one a week, check in on your group and how they are doing in life. It builds connection and it should only take about five to ten minutes. When assigned tasks, ask for reports. To often tasks do not get done because there is no accountability.
Tell the story – remind them of the story, why we are here. There is an old Proverb, “Where there is no vision, the people parish.” Even if you are working on a small project, this project should take you to the bigger goal. Each small goal leads you to the big goal line. So always tell the story.
Gauge Progress – How are we doing? What I love about the chains in football is that measure how far you have been. Tells you how far you need to go to reach your next goal. Gauging progress is a good accountability tool to help keep your team motivated.

Great Teams Are FUN Teams

Fun is magnetic – Other people do notice things that are different. When it is positive, engaging and fun you will always draw a bigger crowd. You grow bigger better teams and bigger better customers.
Creates higher performance – When faced with great opposition or just a heavy workload, a fun culture can help your team be more relaxed. This allows them to focus on tasks, move at greater speeds and stimulates the brain to function at higher levels.
Creates shared experiences – People strive to be a part of a community. Having fun pulls people together for a purpose and so you end up with fewer turnovers.
Builds a sturdy relational bridge – Have you ever seemed to walk on egg shells around a group before? Developing a fun culture builds trust in each other, building bonds that help withstand any kind of weight and carries the team over any kind of trouble.
Are friendlier groups – this not only helps internally but also helps in dealing with customers and community that your team connects with.

Great Teams Are Challenging – It is hard but people want to be a part of something BIG.

Raise the bar occasionally – No team can get stronger unless they are challenged and build up endurance to do more and greater things.
Apply truth – Don’t be afraid to go into deep discussions with your team. This could be on correction, missed opportunities or just getting hit hard with life, be sure to apply truth and walk your team through this time.
Don’t settle for surface – A good mission statement helps with this. It provides direction and helps drill down to the good stuff. Otherwise a team may not know why they are here and not give the performance you need. Lead out on this, a good leader gives influence on how to go deeper.
Pick your spots – As much as we want to be aggressive and go for the Hail Mary’s, to often we fall short. There is a right time and right place for challenge. Most often the best time to implement them are from you planning then executing small challenges that are achievable. The pitch and pray hardly ever works.

Great Teams Have Group Involvement

Include everyone in the discussion – To often we feel that if we gave the information both written and oral, everyone will understand. Asking questions and allowing everyone to do the same brings clarity to the group. Don’t be afraid to give others to chance to share and give information as well.
Give away responsibility – Allowing others responsibility gives power and confidence to the to those it is given. It also allows for coaching others as they struggle allowing you to influence and teach new leaders.
Are more than a meeting – To gather and scatter is not what growing teams is about. Getting others engaged helps with communication to be effective and retentive when you involve a group into the meeting.
Engage the community – the community is basically everyone that knows and works with your team. Sharing information gives everyone else a chance to hear and discover your message and why you do it. Once they hear your message then the community will be more willing to share that message.

Great Teams Have Dynamic Meetings

Think about changing the scenery – This refreshes the mind to give more clarity and understanding to the message you want your team needs to hear. Going outside or changing rooms keeps the mind fresh and sharp due to the changes.
Play with the form – The same routine every day dulls the senses and does not allow for creativity in the meeting. Think of it this way if you have you ever drove home late at night and wondered how you got home because you don’t remember the trip? Your mind goes into automatic mode and doesn’t enact the creative problem solving side.
Are always open – Things occur, problems happen, and meetings get distracted every day. Be relaxed, learn to read the room and be willing to change if necessary to solve a problem or issue that needs to be addressed.
Launch new leaders – Over time as you follow the above, other people with start to lead naturally. Don’t be afraid to say that so and so is now going to start taking over the meetings. It allows you to teach and mentor, plus it allows them to learn and progress.

Question – What is the most irresistible group you have ever been a part of.

What is the most memorable moment in a team to date?