Lineup’s been at it now for over a year. We’ve been out and about conversing with our industry friends and colleagues talking about ANYTHING and EVERYTHING related to teams. What makes them successful? What causes them to fail? What does team diversity mean? How is performance impacted by the mix of talent on your team? How do you keep team members engaged?

As you know, we’re a wildly curious bunch, so these are just a few things that keep our inquisitive minds up at night. So far, we’ve learned a lot and are excited to pass along Five Characteristics of a Great Team.

Diverse Members

Build your teams with people from different backgrounds and geographies who have complementary skill sets, traits, and experience. Not only will this encourage “outside the box” thinking, but it will also enhance engagement and improve performance.

SMART Goals

Clearly identify your S.M.A.R.T. (specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and timely) goals that empower the team to best manage their time and use their combined knowledge, skills, and abilities to succeed. Understanding the intended end results is key to individual contribution and group success.

Strong Leadership

Select a leader who will deliver vision and empower the team to design, solve, and execute that vision. They will be the person responsible for removing constraints, inviting candid communications and managing conflict.

Open Communication

Team members feel safe and secure when they can share thoughts, opinions, and ideas openly and respectfully. They give others the same consideration and feel they are contributing, which goes a long way in avoiding conflict.

Flexibility

Goals, scope, objectives, processes, and team makeup may change over time. Create an environment that is flexible enough to adapt and pivot as necessary.