What makes a successful team? Characteristics of effective teamwork.

Decorative image — What makes a successful team?
We’re taught to work as a team all our lives, but what does good teamwork actually look like? Let’s build the best possible team.

Leadership

You may be trying to cultivate a team that is a buzzing organism of productivity and goodness, but it’s important to remember that as the leader, you are ground zero. For a team to work seamlessly, a clear structure must be in place, and you are at the top of that, ready to inspire, empower, empathise and communicate clearly. According to Forbes Magazine, a great leader (rather than merely a good one) takes responsibility for the reality they find themselves in – they’re willing to embrace messy problems, even when they didn’t create them.

Diverse perspectives

The more access you have to people with different backgrounds, experience and ways of thinking, the better it is for your business, full stop. The benefits of a diverse workforce are endless: more chances to learn from each other, the capacity to solve more complex problems, increased innovation, more ideas and a feeling of inclusivity and belonging, which means people feel safe to speak their minds. And that brings us to …

Psychological safety

Psychological safety in the workplace is an idea coined by Harvard Business School professor Amy Edmondson. Employees must feel safe and comfortable to express themselves – to ask questions even if the answer seems obvious, raise concerns no matter who or what they relate to (even – especially – if it’s their boss), and to openly admit mistakes without fear of consequences. The best managers know learning is key to performing better in the long run, and this shared belief – that it’s going to be OK – is a big part of what makes a successful team.

As Francesca Tighinean of the Psychology Podcast shared in our In the Lift series: “People need to feel safe, respected and included first. Everything else builds from there.” Psychological safety isn't a perk of a strong culture, it's the foundation of one.

Trust

Psychological safety and trust go hand in hand. And trust can mushroom through an organisation – when someone feels trusted, they rise to the occasion and do their best work, and they in turn trust their colleagues to do the same. Establishing trust is a big part of a leader’s job.

Communication

This is another of the classic characteristics of effective teamwork and one that’s particularly relevant to modern teams. In Fora spaces, teams have room to think, talk and reset, which means communication tends to feel clearer – and more human. Studies show that teams with strong communication finish their work significantly faster and produce work of a much higher quality.

This is so unique to your business, but might mean you need easier communication channels or new project management software, or to hold more all-staff meetings, or to work on using clearer language in your own communications. It may also mean investing in some training, so everybody gets better at active listening and is on the same page to begin with.

Clear goals

Members of the best teams have a really clear idea of the goals of the wider organisation, not just individual ones. They’re focused on making their team as effective as it can be, not on their own targets.

There is no reason that distributed or virtual teams can’t be great, as long as the characteristics of effective teamwork are at play. But clearly, being in an environment that inspires you to be inclusive, empowers you to be your best work self, and is purpose-designed for open communication is an option to be considered.

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