What is a “Successful Team”?As a po

What is a “Successful Team”?

As a point of departure, our model of the dimensions of a team (see below), provides an initial frame of reference to facilitate the conversation that the team needs to have on ‘what do we need to talk about”.

The dimensions are completely interrelated and interdependent, and are “joined together” by the relevant and appropriate leadership practices. You cannot think about the team’s purpose (what is our intent and ambition), without understanding “who we are” as well as ensuring that “how we work together” supports our expectations and our intentThere are many models and theories about what makes a successful team. Such models or frameworks inform the approach that one might adopt when asked to assist a client in a team development process: be this in the establishment of a team (e.g., often when the team context, structure or composition has changed) or the improvement of an existing team (e.g., where the team is experiencing difficulties).

Research indicates (Ref Centre for Creative Leadership) that there tend to be two key performance indicators that would help us recognise whether a team is successful or not: team results (the task delivery dynamic) and team cohesion (the social or interpersonal dynamic). This implies that when we coach a team, our definition of success takes into account a need to pay attention to both the task of the team (clarity of vision, mission, strategy and business objectives, how it is organised, etc.) as well as the teamwork that will be required (interpersonal dynamics, levels of affinity, individual and collective capabilities required, ways of working & appreciation of interdependencies, etc).

The Pygmalion Team Effectiveness model provides us with a frame of reference that would support any Team Coaching Programme, and this is outlined below. The model concerns itself with what practices would enable a team to be effective in order to achieve success. However, we recognise that models are merely metaphors or images that provide a point of departure, so the model offered below does so as a tentative 1st step in helping shape a mutual understanding of the client’s intent.