7 ways to create a powerful team committed to success.

Horses will stand in a circle with their hind legs facing their adversary when threatened.

They point their back legs at the enemy and prepare to strike.?

As a team they work together and create incredible inertia that is intimidating and powerful.

Donkeys gather as well.? However, they face the intruder and end up kicking each other in the ass.

This is how many teams in corporate America function.?

Weak leaders with lack of direction and poor emotional intelligence fail to mobilize their teams true potential.

In the process, they create an atmosphere of suspicion and mistrust that causes a cesspool of dysfunction.?

If our focus is on self-preservation, getting what we deserve and?inhibiting people from from promotion, we diminish the strength of the organization and the satisfaction of the people we work with.

You see this happening in corporate environments today.

An obsession with creating “the perception” of inclusion and diversity.? The problem, its theater driven by shame, guilt, and the desire to “appear” virtuous.

By focusing on “differences”, our differences become exasperated.

Great leaders understand how to assemble diverse teams and create safety, and they focus on what unites people.? That includes everyone without excluding anyone.?

In the words of John F. Kennedy, “Let us explore what problems unit us instead of belaboring the problems that divide us”.

“If everyone is moving forward together, then success takes care of itself.”?–?Henry Ford

Here are 7 ways to create incredibly powerful teams:

Communication

Great teams communicate well and treat their colleagues with respect, kindness, empathy and understanding.? Team members understand the importance of learning to disagree but articulate their differences respectfully.? Great teams communicate frequently and effectively, and they listen attentively.? They remain open minded and in control of their emotions.?

Values

Great teams are diverse, and they share common values.? They learn to obviate the effects of emotion by recognizing the strengths of each team participant.? They dismiss the notion that everyone must have equal say, and depend on the experience, talent, judgement, wisdom, and expertise of the most qualified members to address the biggest challenges.? When values are aligned, and success is the ultimate objective, we don't worry about appeasing everyone’s fragile ego.? ????

Effort

Great teams pull together, and each member does their fair share.? Slackers aren’t tolerated and weak members that become problematic need to be replaced.? Great teams stay focused and don’t require constant oversight because the vision and direction are clear.? Great teams understand the objective and don't waste time obsessed with personal ambitions.? The large picture is what drives their collective aspirations.??

“No one can whistle a symphony. It takes a whole orchestra to play it.”?–?H.E. Luccock

Unity

Many dysfunctional corporate cultures rely on the contributions of several members but lack involvement from everyone.? Poor leaders discourage participation because they believe they possess all the answers or feel threatened by “rising starts”.? When teams lack unity, toxic chemistry drives people apart.? Great teams function like a close family that genuinely cares about each member.? Ego and personal ambition are nullified by unity and togetherness.?

Vision

Many teams struggle because they lack direction. When a vision is clearly articulated and supported with clear action, teams flourish.? When the vision is clear, competent team members can execute without impunity, and they exceed expectations.? Without proper vision and supreme confidence in the course of action, teams stumble.? Fear and uncertainty are often the result of poor vision, and everyone suffers when confidence erodes.???

Misfit

No matter how diligent our hiring practices are, sometimes we make bad decisions.? It’s not always easy to identify a rotten apple with a worm hiding in the middle.? However, when we recognize someone isn’t a good fit, they need to be removed immediately.? People with negative attitudes and poor communication skills can spoil team chemistry and create unwanted distractions.? Misfits need to be eliminated to ensure success for everyone else committed to working together.??????

Advantage?

Great teams have the advantage of remarkable leadership.? Businesses are filled with self-proclaimed great leaders, but the facts don’t lie.? People are leaving their jobs in droves because leadership is weak, and that has been especially true over the past several years.? The ultimate equalizer is strong leadership, and their impact doesn't lie.? Great leaders instill strong virtues and create confidence that’s contagious.? Great leaders don’t stand before people talking about “tribes” and “finding our why”, they embody what they believe, and people eagerly come along for the journey.? ????

“Great things in business are never done by one person; they’re done by a team of people.”?–?Steve Jobs

Sum it up.

Any other tips for building strong teams?? Share your thoughts in the comments section and please like and share this article. I love learning from you as well.

About Steve:

Steve Wohlenhaus is CEO of Weatherology, the leading company in the world at disseminating audio weather information.?? Steve began his career as a major market television weather anchor in Minneapolis, where he received several Emmy Awards for science programming.? Steve is the author and host of the podcast program Anatomy of Success.? Reach out and connect with me on LinkedIn.? Learn more about my work and grab the free Weatherology mobile app by clicking any picture in this article!