Why Team Development Is Essential In Small-Medium Business And How To Make It Happen

Creating successful and effective teams is seen as highly desirable. In sport the team is king. And we've studied successful sports teams for decades to discover their "secrets". Many different theories have emerged. But two characteristics are common to all successful teams.

The First Is Goal Dependence. Goal dependence means that each team member depends on the other team members achieving their goals so that he or she can achieve his or hers. It also means that the most important goal to be achieved is the team goal.

Task Interdependence Is The Second. Task interdependence means that if one team member doesn't do his or her job well, one or more of the other team members can't do their jobs well either. This is obvious in sports teams. And it's clear in the workplace too.

The Essence. Goal dependence and task interdependence are at the heart of successful team performance. I know they're fancy words. Don't worry about that. The implications are what matter. Because small-medium businesses have relatively fewer employees, teamwork is particularly important.

The Team Exists. Managers have the responsibility for developing effective teams. Notice that I said "developing" not "building" teams. Even if you have only one employee, you have a team. It doesn't have to be "built". It exists. The team, not the individual, is the basic productive unit in your company.

Multiple Team Membership. Each employee will be a member of at least two teams. It's usual for managers to be members of at least three teams: the management team, the team they actually lead and any other team or teams they participate in as a manager.

Team Goals Essential. As modern managers, we tend to be too concerned about individual performance and development. That's what we've been taught. This disregards goal dependence and task interdependence. Yet these two essentials are clearly evident in any workplace. Total success can be achieved only when the various parts of a business co-operate successfully. And no individual can succeed without the co-operation of others.

Relevance For Small-Medium Business. Small-medium business employees are almost certain to be members of more than one team. The size of a small-medium business often means that employees must "wear many hats". Rigid, single team membership is far more likely in large business.

Implications For Managers. The reality of Goal Dependence and Task Interdependence means that small-medium business managers need to review a number of things

* What teams exist? * Who's in which teams? * What are the goals and the performance standards of the various teams? * What are the crucial interactions between teams? * Are team incentives already in place? * Do employees value teamwork sufficiently highly? * Are they, the managers, effective team leaders? * Do our systems enhance performance both within and between teams? * Is effective team membership part of our staff selection criteria?

Conclusion. In small-medium business effective team performance is essential. The results of a breakdown within or between teams can have devastating results. And because staff may "wear many hats" poor performance in one area will invariably have serious consequences in others. Goal Dependence and Task Interdependence may sound a bit like longwinded jargon. But they sum up a reality confronting managers in small-medium business every daily.

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