Effective Teams

Characteristics of

Defined Goals

Before working on their tasks, an effective team may first establish their goals. This provides the members something to aim for collectively and defines how they will be evaluated, that is, based on measurable outcomes and not only the number of work hours they render.

Assigned Roles

When each team member has an assigned role, they can make effective contributions to their group and help ensure its success. The team leader might designate these roles, or the entire team may work together to best understand each other's skill and expertise and assign roles accordingly.

Open Communication

A team with open communication allows members to discuss their ideas and feel that their input matters. Successful teams often welcome diverse thoughts and opinions that help them solve problems and complete tasks in creative ways.

Collaboration

Collaboration involves seeking help when problems arise and sharing suggestions with one another. Team members may collaborate continuously throughout a project's lifetime to ensure they're working on the right tasks and contributing to the planned outcomes.

Conflict Resolution

During a disagreement, members may speak to one another calmly, respect each other's ideas and focus on finding a compromise. This helps them listen to differences in opinion and find resolutions that satisfy the needs of the entire group.