How to Build a Dream Team

Dream teams are believed to be as elusive as unicorns. They aren't exactly common in the wild, but they aren't as hard to come by and keep together if you build them yourself. Like star athletic teams, dream teams are built when the right mix of talent, chemistry, and leadership comes together. Consider yourself fortunate if you have the opportunity to work with one. Here are some steps you can take to stack the odds in your favor:

Hire for Attitude, Not Just Aptitude

Building a dream team starts with finding the right people. You need individuals with complementary skill sets and a shared commitment to the company's success. Look for team members who are passionate about their work and who will be committed to going above and beyond to achieve company goals. Aptitude can be taught, but attitude is harder to change. Look for candidates who are positive, coachable, and have a growth mindset. These are the kinds of people who will be open to new ideas and willing to put in the work to improve.

Create a Culture of Trust and Respect

Dream teams only thrive in an environment of trust and respect. If team members don't feel safe taking risks or sharing new ideas, then the team will never reach its full potential. To create a culture of trust and respect, start with yourself. Model the behavior you want to see from your team members. Be open and transparent with them, and give them the space to be vulnerable with you. Dream team members cultivate a deep level of trust and respect for one another by being honest, reliable, and supportive. Make these qualities the norm by setting an example and holding team members accountable to the same standards.

Encourage Collaboration Over Competition

Teams that are too competitive with each other will never be able to work together effectively. Encourage your team members to collaborate by establishing ground rules and expectations for how they should work together. And make sure to recognize and reward individuals for their contributions to the team's success. Dream teams are a place for professionals to collaborate, share ideas, and learn from one another. Egos are put aside for the good of the team, and everyone is working towards a common goal.

Give Everyone a Voice

Dream teams are made up of individuals with different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. It's important to give everyone a voice in the team's decision-making process. This way, you can tap into the team's collective wisdom and come up with the best possible solutions to problems. When everyone feels like their opinion matters, they will be more engaged and invested in the team's work. Keep an open mind and learn from as many different people as you can. There is no one perfect way to do things, and following old traditions may not always be the best course of action. Diversity of thought enables dream teams to be more creative, innovative, and successful.

Create Growth Opportunities

Dream teams thrive on growth. They are constantly learning and expanding their skill sets. As a leader, it's your job to create opportunities for your team members to grow. This could mean providing training and development opportunities, offering mentorship and coaching, or giving team members the chance to work on more challenging projects. Whatever you do, make sure you are investing in your team's growth. This will pay off in the long run by making your team more successful and engaged.

Give Them the Resources They Need to Succeed

Dream teams can't achieve their full potential if they don't have the resources they need to succeed. Make sure your team has the budget, the tools, and the training they need to do their best work. And don't forget to give them the time they need to get the job done right. Rushing a project or cutting corners will only lead to subpar results. Dream teams need the freedom to do their best work without being hindered by constraints.

Hold Them Accountable

Dream teams step up to the challenge when they are given clear expectations and metrics for success and regular feedback on how the team is doing. By their nature, dream teams aim to reach above and beyond what is expected of them. But they can only do this if they are held accountable to a higher standard. As the leader, it's your job to set the bar high and hold your team accountable for meeting it. However, mistakes or falling short of lofty goals are not a cause for retribution; rather, they are opportunities to learn and grow and improve.

Create a Common Purpose

When you have a shared vision and everyone is working towards the same goal, amazing things can happen. This is the power of a common purpose. It motivates and inspires people to do their best work. And it gives them a sense of ownership and pride in what they are doing. Dream teams need to have a clear and inspiring purpose that everyone can buy into. If you can create this for your team, you will be well on your way to achieving greatness.

The truth is, we are all part of teams in many different aspects of our lives. A team can be as small as two people working together towards a common goal, or it can be a large group of people with complementary skills and talents. No matter what the size or makeup of your team, you can build a dream team that will help you achieve success.?

Clara Conti is a transformational leader, senior global public sector executive, corporate restructuring guru, and founder of multiple business startups. Connect with her on?LinkedIn?and?Twitter.