Teams need common vision

The word "team" in the corporate world is one of the most abused words in the sense that what is normally referred to as a team is an amalgamation of individuals who share no common vision except that they belong to the organization with the same name.

It probably goes without saying teams need to have a common purpose. If the team leader is trying to save the world but your real goal is to make a better tennis shoe, then that's a challenge that needs to be addressed.

Team-based organizations should have teams that are entrusted with the responsibility for whole processes (outcomes) rather than isolated functions.

Complimentary skills are important too, when everyone on the team has similar skills and interests and abilities, creativity and intelligent risk-taking often get left behind.

Teams are more effective than individuals when organizing and making decisions, but our current methods of building teams continue to focus on individual accountability. Unlike traditional classroom teaching methods, teams should be given challenges to work through and outcomes to work toward.

A collaborative team is a collection of mutually trusting, respecting, and supporting individuals, who need each other's knowledge, abilities, and combined efforts of the group to effectively achieve common goals. Remember that your employees are already geared to operate in groups; all you need to do is integrate teamwork practices and the sharing of outcomes desired and common vision into your organization's operations.

If designed properly, team-based organizations with clear outcomes and shared vision will always have an upper hand in organizational performance compared to organizations where people are not working towards the same vision and goals.
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