We all know that when we are part of a successful team it feels like we have the ability to achieve just about anything.
In any team one of the most important components in being successful is having a clear purpose. Think about it if a team does not have a clear purpose it is going to be difficult to:
- Assess what progress is being made
- Determine whether the team is on or off track
- Identify what needs to change when things are not working
While most people understand that it is important to have a clear purpose, achieving this in practice is often more difficult. A good indicator that you have a clear purpose is when individual team members can easily articulate what the team is trying to achieve.
A good example of the complete opposite is when the team is vague and people talk in vague terms like improved efficiency, better engagement, customer satisfaction or better productivity to name just a few.
So how can you get a crystal clear purpose for your team?
Make the time to define the purpose
Seems obvious but how often is it done in practice. Chances are the team is established to either address a problem or exploit an opportunity. What is the problem or the opportunity? Answering this question will get you off to a flying start in having a clear purpose.
Check out understanding
You might think you have a crystal clear purpose if you are the leader. Yet the team members might have a different point of view. Ask the team members to describe in their own words their understanding of the purpose so that you can get to a point of common understanding.
Keep it simple
It is really easy to become over elaborate and make things more complicated than necessary. Generally simpler is better. For example, 98% of employees paid correctly is simple and crystal clear as a purpose.
Bottom Line – Creating a clear purpose is core to team results. So what steps do you need to take to define the team purpose and get better results?
Duncan Brodie of Goals and Achievements helps accountants and health professionals to become great leaders and managers and improve team working. For more information click here
