Encouraging Teamwork

Intermediate

difficulty

Stage 3

Agile IQ® Level

Collaboration

Practices

Agile

Framework

Overview

A group is a collection of individuals who coordinate their individual efforts. On the other hand, at team is a group of people who share a common team purpose and a number of challenging goals. MembersĀ of the team are mutually committed to the goals and to each other.

ā€œA champion team will defeat a team of champions.ā€

Shared responsibility is key

Team members share the responsibility for delivery, but group members don’t. Instead, groups focus on achieving the individual tasks and individual goals. Real teamwork implies [1]:

  • Collaboration over coordination.
  • Communication over ambient familiarity.
  • Acknowledgment of a common purpose.

ā€œA team is a group of two or more people who interdependently seek to meet a common purpose, often through problem solving, in order to meet their own and their organization’s goals. At a minimum, a team should be a cooperative unit and, at its best, a team is a collaborative unit.ā€

Seven Core Components of the Psychology of Teamwork

According to theĀ TESIĀ (Team Emotional and Social Intelligence) Model, there are seven skills that will contribute to effective team functioning:

1. Team Identity

A group with a strong team identity demonstrates belongingness and connectedness, a desire to work together, and a sense of clarity around the role of each member. Groups with strong team identity also have high degrees of loyalty.

2. Motivation

A high level of motivation corresponds with the energy and responsibility levels of the team, and whether competition is working for or against the team. Having a motivated team requires knowing and meeting stakeholders’ desires, setting Sprint Goals, reinforcing success, and being persistent.

3. Emotional Awareness

A team’s emotional awareness encompasses the amount of attention the team pays to noticing, understanding, and respecting the feelings of team members. Emotional awareness is a critical factor in motivation, productivity, and a team’s ability to collaborate, making it central to the success of every team.

4. Communication

Intuitively, we know thatĀ communication is an essential factorĀ for a group of people working together. It provides feedback and guidance on how well each of the team members listens, encourages participation, and discusses sensitive topics.

5. Stress Tolerance

A team with good stress tolerance knows how well it’s doing in managing the pressures of stakeholder demands, time constraints, and the real need for sustaimable pace and work-life balance.

6. Conflict Resolution

Assessing a team’s conflict resolution means examining how a team processes disagreement and whether the team is able to deal with adversity as a way to enhance its functioning, rather than being caught up in the conflict. It’s essential for productivity and creativity.

7. Positive Mood

A team with a positive mood has is built on foundations of encouragement, a sense of humor, and an expectation of success. Positive mood is a major factor in a team’s flexibility and resilience, and it’s the heart of a ā€œcan-doā€ attitude. It influences how energised the team’s attitude is.

According to this framework, the result of applying these skills is sustained productivity and emotional and social well-being for the team. Isn’t that what we all want?

ā€œComing together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success.ā€

Henry Ford

TRY THIS

  • Facilitate a Retrospective to create a Team Canvas that describes and defines the team’s identity.Ā 
  • Agree on special ceremonies to celebrate work that’s Done. Some teams use a “YES!” button, a bell, or share a special meme in their chat. Others celebrate after Retrospective by visiting the pub or having a team lunch.
  • Create Personal Maps in a Retrospective to raise awareness of people’s abilities, experiences and desires. Return to the Personal Maps and update them yearly.

References

1. Catarina Lino, MAPP, Psychologist (2020)Ā  The Psychology of Teamwork: The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teams. Online at: https://positivepsychology.com/psychology-teamwork/
agile iq academy logo 2022-05-05 sm

Enter your details

search previous next tag category expand menu location phone mail time cart zoom edit close