Seven Qualities in Great Teams, Remote or Not

Healthy things grow. Healthy teams, even small ones, increase their effectiveness and bear much fruit. If your team is unhealthy, size compounds the problem and so does working remotely.

Here are seven areas to focus on to build a healthy team.

Healthy Teams Trust Each Other: Trust is the one thing that changes everything within teams and relationships. Trust is to teamwork what the foundation is to your home. The health of your team cannot outgrow the foundation of trust on which it is built. Patrick Lencioni has some wonderful wisdom on building vulnerability-based trust in teams. For more please visit his website here.

Healthy Teams Identify as a Team: Some ‘teams’ are just working groups – an association of individuals that report to the same boss. They meet periodically, even regularly, but there’s no real collaboration. They don’t depend on each other for results. Real teams clarify a singular shared win that is dependent on mutual accountability and collaboration which is the essence of teamwork.

Healthy Teams Embrace Shared Values: Shared values clarify three important things. First, they articulate the uniqueness of their mission. Second, they describe what excellence looks like. And third, they clarify how people are treated in the organization. I once heard John Maxwell talk about core values with these metaphors: Shared values are like glue, they hold the team together. They are like a compass, they keep you heading in the right direction. They are like a ruler, they serve as a measuring stick. They are like a magnet, attracting the right people.

Healthy Teams Stay on Mission: A clear and compelling mission helps teams stay on track by distinguishing between good, better, and best. Teams that have a sharp mission statement are empowered to say no to distractions because they have a deeper burning yes inside. Ministry and Church teams are not immune from mission creep. The Church is more vulnerable because needs and opportunities are everywhere. Jim Schleckser wrote a great article for Inc. magazine on staying true to your mission, here.

Healthy Teams Insist on Clearly Defined Roles & Responsibilities: Roles identify who you are within the organization and responsibilities define what you do. Healthy teams focus on delegating to the sweet spot. Your sweet spot is the intersection of three things: gifting from God, the passion of the individual and organization need or opportunity. When leaders put their people in their sweet spot, managing gets easier – just loose them and let them grow the impact of the organization.

Healthy Teams Contain a Mix of Personalities: Different positions on sports teams and various instruments in an orchestra produce positive chemistry. Healthy teams possess the same mosaic. Unique personalities are welcomed and appreciated. Differences are seen as complementary, not contradictory. In other words, people appreciate each other’s uniqueness. They enjoy spending time together. Meetings are fun but also generate ideological conflict which produces great ideas and strategies. There is a high level of empathy, people listen to each other because they sincerely value the other person’s perspective. Everyone shares their hearts because they feel free and safe to do so.

Healthy Teams have the Ability and the Willingness to Adapt & Change: Methods are many, principles are few; methods always change but principles never do. Healthy teams never say, “we’ve always done it that way.” The best teams are loyal to two principles simultaneously – preserve the core and stimulate progress. Healthy teams are committed to their mission and values but they abhor the status quo. They are motivated by the improvement agenda and committed to getting better together. Jim Collins has a short video (45 secs) on this principle here.

Teamwork is the fuel that empowers ordinary people to accomplish extraordinary results when they work together.