This week’s Flashback Friday post takes us right back to year one of the Teams365 blog. What makes a team successful? As you might have noted, I write and speak a lot about the Six Factors of High Performing Teams. There’s not a lot of time in today’s business context for team development, so it’s important that we are efficient and focused with it. This often means returning to the basics, and equipping everyone with the same information.
I thought it would be useful to go back to the basics of some of the elements of virtual team success. What are some of the areas which need to be in place, or can be revisited quickly to do a pulse check to see what needs shoring up?
One area that teams often struggle with is the area of Team Roles. Here’s what I wrote about Exploring Team Roles in Teams365 post #1527.
“An important part of the team building process is exploring and clarifying team roles. There are several great frameworks by researchers around the different roles team members play. For example, you may want to explore the writings and frameworks of Belbin.
In my work as a team coach I like to build on the knowledge of the team itself, getting them to generate their own framework, and naming the different roles they play in their team. It’s common to hear terms like: Project coordinator, social convenor, initiator, implementer, fact checker, Devil’s Advocate. Each role serves a valuable purpose.
What are the roles which exist in your team?
Why is this topic important?
Exploring team roles is important for a variety of reasons. First, conflict often emerges when teams do not have clarity on their roles as a team. Next, role overlap may lead to duplication, and role division may lead to huge gaps that exist. Another layer which is extremely important as a team is to ensure that others understand what roles you inhabit, and what is enjoyable or not. It’s also important to remember that members of a group can get into “role fatigue” when they have to inhabit that role for a long time. The writing of Marita Fridjohn and Ann Rod explores this topic, along with other many useful team topics, .
Here’s a discussion you can undertake as a team:
Enjoy the conversation!
Jennifer
I thought it would be useful to go back to the basics of some of the elements of virtual team success. What are some of the areas which need to be in place, or can be revisited quickly to do a pulse check to see what needs shoring up?
One area that teams often struggle with is the area of Team Roles. Here’s what I wrote about Exploring Team Roles in Teams365 post #1527.
“An important part of the team building process is exploring and clarifying team roles. There are several great frameworks by researchers around the different roles team members play. For example, you may want to explore the writings and frameworks of Belbin.
In my work as a team coach I like to build on the knowledge of the team itself, getting them to generate their own framework, and naming the different roles they play in their team. It’s common to hear terms like: Project coordinator, social convenor, initiator, implementer, fact checker, Devil’s Advocate. Each role serves a valuable purpose.
What are the roles which exist in your team?
Why is this topic important?
Exploring team roles is important for a variety of reasons. First, conflict often emerges when teams do not have clarity on their roles as a team. Next, role overlap may lead to duplication, and role division may lead to huge gaps that exist. Another layer which is extremely important as a team is to ensure that others understand what roles you inhabit, and what is enjoyable or not. It’s also important to remember that members of a group can get into “role fatigue” when they have to inhabit that role for a long time. The writing of Marita Fridjohn and Ann Rod explores this topic, along with other many useful team topics, .
Here’s a discussion you can undertake as a team:
- What are the roles which exist within the team?
- Who inhabits the different roles?
- What is the greatest value that role serves for this team?
- How might that role get over-magnified or over-inhabited?
- What roles need to be clarified for the team?
- What roles are missing? What’s needed?
- Which roles are overlapping? What impact does this have?
Enjoy the conversation!
Jennifer
Jennifer Britton
Potentials Realized | Effective Virtual Conversations | Coaching Team Leaders
We provide team and leadership development support through coaching, consulting and training services
Author of several books including the 2018 Coaching Business Builder Workbook and Planner & Effective Virtual Conversations (2017)
Email: [email protected]
(416)996-8326
Potentials Realized | Effective Virtual Conversations | Coaching Team Leaders
We provide team and leadership development support through coaching, consulting and training services
Author of several books including the 2018 Coaching Business Builder Workbook and Planner & Effective Virtual Conversations (2017)
Email: [email protected]
(416)996-8326
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