When working with an organisation, we often start with the leadership team. If they’re unable to have open conversations with each other, can’t handle conflict well or are too focused on their individual department goals that will significantly hinder progress.
Using Patrick Lencioni’s framework on the five behaviours of a cohesive team, we work with a team to help them transform their performance. The five behaviours essential for fostering cohesion and achieving collective goals are:
1. Trust
Trust is the cornerstone upon which cohesive teams are built.
Without it, communication falters, collaboration stagnates, and progress becomes elusive.
Vulnerability-based trust is particularly significant. This is where team members feel safe to express their ideas, admit mistakes, and ask for help without fear of judgment.
We work with a team to help them understand how to develop and deepen trust. Establishing trust requires open and honest communication, empathy, and a willingness to be vulnerable. When team members trust one another, they can engage in healthy conflict, knowing that their intentions are aligned towards the greater good of the team.
2. Conflict
Contrary to what you might think, conflict within teams isn’t negative. In fact, healthy conflict is vital for innovation, creativity, and ultimately, better decision-making.
However, the key lies in how teams manage and channel this conflict.
Rather than avoiding disagreements or resorting to passive-aggressive behaviour, successful teams embrace constructive conflict as a means to challenge assumptions, explore diverse perspectives, and arrive at optimal solutions.
We help clients to foster an environment where differing opinions are valued and debated respectfully so that teams can harness the power of conflict to drive progress and innovation.
3. Commitment
Commitment is the fuel that propels teams towards their goals.
It’s really important to achieve buy-in from all team members to ensure that everyone is fully aligned with the team’s objectives and strategies.
When individuals commit wholeheartedly to the team’s goals, they prioritise collective success over personal agendas, making sacrifices when necessary and persevering in the face of challenges.
We work with clients to develop and communicate a clear vision, clarify expectations, and actively seek input from team members to ensure that everyone feels heard and valued.
4. Accountability
In great teams, accountability is not imposed from the top-down but embraced as a shared responsibility among all members.
The most successful teams are those in which team members hold one another accountable for their actions, decisions and performance. This mutual accountability fosters a culture of ownership and responsibility, where individuals take pride in their work and are committed to delivering results.
By establishing clear goals, defining roles and responsibilities, and providing regular feedback, teams can create an environment where accountability becomes ingrained in the team’s culture.
5. Collective results
Ultimately, the true measure of a cohesive team lies in its ability to deliver tangible results.
This is often the part that team-members struggle with the most if their organisation or industry has historically rewarded individual goals. For example, lawyers and accountants have typically spent their careers being rewarded for their personal billing levels – they are often the highest fee-earners in the firm.
But, when they step up to run an organisation, it’s vital that they can switch their priority towards collective outcomes.
When team members prioritise the team’s success above their own, they collaborate more effectively, leverage each other’s strengths, and celebrate achievements together.
At Tandem, we help senior teams to set clear performance goals, track progress and celebrate milestones together. That way, teams can stay focused on delivering results that exceed expectations and propel the organisation towards its overarching objectives.
The results speak for themselves. By fostering trust, embracing healthy conflict, committing to shared goals, holding each other accountable, and prioritising collective goals, we see teams reaching their full potential and achieving extraordinary things!