6 Myths About Team Success
We all recognise that teams have the potential to achieve great things. There are many great examples of teams of people pulling together to achieve great results, sometimes in extreme circumstances.
At the same time there often a lot of myths about teams too.
Myth #1: They Have A Great Leader
Of course leaders contribute to the success of a team. Obviously a great leader can make a big difference. However even a leader who is mediocre but gets the best from each and every member of the team can make a big impact.
Myth#2: Everything They Touch Turns To Gold
It would be fantastic if this was really the case. The reality is that for every big success there are likely to be many setbacks and failings along the way. The difference is the best teams learn from the setbacks to keep moving forward.
Myth #3: They Never Fall Out
You can get on great with people the vast majority of the time and this does not mean there are never disagreements. Teams need healthy challenge and conflict to stay at the top of their game. The difference in successful teams is that they learn to handle conflict in a way that makes it productive.
Myth #4: It All Happens Overnight
Yes you might be able to score some big successes early on. At the same time there is a huge difference between a one off and sustained success. Most of what appear to be overnight successes are actually years in the making.
Myth #5: Everyone Needs To Be Creative And Extroverted
On any successful team you need the right attitude. This does not mean that you need to have a bunch of clones. In reality you need people with a mix of skills and talents. It’s the blending of those skills and talents that makes the difference.
Myth #6: They Have Some Special Ingredient
In my experience there is no such thing as a single ingredient that makes the difference. There are a number of factors that contribute to success.
The Bottom Line: All team success is down to a mix of attitude, commitment, skills and expertise. Don’t fall into the trap of thinking you can just tackle one thing and everything will be perfect.
Duncan Brodie helps accountants and other professionals to get better results through teams. You can sign up for his free audio e-course here.
About the Author Duncan Brodie
Since 2006 I’ve worked with in excess of 8,000 accountants and professionals in workshops, seminars and one to one helping them land their next jobs and become better leaders, presenters and business partners. Before that I spent 25 years in accountancy climbing the career ladder from Payments Clerk to FD. I’m a CIMA Fellow, Certified Professional Coach and Team Coach Facilitator.