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When authors Mike and Harvey Robbins wrote a book called \u201cWhy teams don\u2019t work\u201d \u2013 they weren\u2019t saying teams \u201cdon\u2019t\u201d work, but highlighting the roadblocks to effective teamwork. Listed below are some of the reasons they cite for poor team performance.<\/span><\/p>\n Why teams don\u2019t work . . .<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Although this is quite a long list, we can readily categorize these problems into four realms or clusters as follows:\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n The clusters represent quite unique team building challenges.<\/span><\/p>\n Team Leadership<\/strong> problems are obviously related to the team leader, rather than to team members and make team building difficult because the leader typically needs to make the greatest change in terms of current behaviour or approaches. For team building to work, a leader either needs to start thinking in new ways ahead of time, or at least be open to make adjustments in the future. If neither of these are possible, team building efforts are likely to be sub-optimized or fail completely.<\/span><\/p>\n Team Relationship<\/strong> problems (such as personality conflicts) are often best dealt with on a private basis between the individuals concerned and not in a team building situation. However, if the relationship problems are about communication shortfalls, role clarity or mismatches between people and the roles they are being asked to do, team building can be a good way to tease out the issues and potentially identify new ways that things might be done in the future.<\/span><\/p>\n Team Values\/Beliefs<\/strong> problems often stem from the leader, who may well let individuals hold very different beliefs and\/or values which can lead to many problems in terms of consistency of decisions, and trust. A very \u201chands-off\u201d leader may also allow a culture that is not very team-oriented or unwilling to face up to major change, when it comes along. Team building can be useful in these circumstances as it allows a leader to not only air any issues but to seek to create more values\/beliefs alignment in the interests of better team efficiency and effectiveness.<\/span><\/p>\n Team Processes<\/strong> problems relate to all the policies, procedures, operating standards and systems which exist to guide the team\u2019s efforts. If well-designed and clear to all they are rarely much of an issue. However, where this is not the case, team performance can suffer greatly and change has to occur. Team building activities can be a great way to address team process problems and challenges and start to identify better ways of doing things.<\/span><\/p>\n Summary<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n\n
\n\n
\n Team Leadership<\/strong><\/p>\n \n
Team Relationships<\/strong><\/p>\n \n
\n Team Values\/beliefs<\/strong><\/p>\n \n
Team Processes<\/strong><\/p>\n \n
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