Building a Strong, Productive Team

Building astrong, productive team is not a small feat. To take a number of diverse personalities and build them into a collaborative team is a challenge of the highest order that only a true leader can accomplish. Such an effort is certain to encounter obstacles and frustrations along the way. But it also is likely to encounter some pleasurable moments. The important thing is always to keep in mind a vision of the productive team and not be overwhelmed by the obstacles and frustrations.

Transforming an unproductive team into a productive team can not be achieved through a single bold and imaginative move or through some magical means. Rather, it is necessary to do many small things over an extended period of time. These are summarized in the following three guidelines that follow.

1. Decide on the type of team you are looking to build. In the book “Game Plans,” Robert Keidel makes interesting comparisons between organizational teams and sports teams. He focuses on three different sports teams: baseball, football, and basketball and shows their counterparts in business and industry. Keidel does not suggest that any particular sports team model is ideal, because any one of them might be appropriate under a given set of circumstances. The point that is emphasized is to know exactly what game your organization or unit is playing (or should be playing) and then choose the appropriate model.

2. Communicate your vision. We have stressed that one of the chief functions of leadership is to create a clear vision of the desired state of the organization. This vision should be an exciting view of the future that will inspire the members of the team to put forth their best efforts. The important thing is not to keep your vision a secret. Share it with your people and solicit their ideas on how best to embellish the vision and then convert it into reality.

3. Communicate your philosophy of management. As a manager, you should have a basic philosophy of management: an elucidation of your concept of management and how the management function should be carried out. Included in this philosophy of management should be a clear statement of values, goals, and strategies. It is important that they be consistent and that they support and reinforce one another. Do not keep your philosophy of management a secret. Share it with your people. They will then understand "where you are coming from." Most important, make certain that your day-to-day decisions and actions are a true echo of your expressed philosophy.