The Secret To Creating A Cohesive Team Culture
In a Harvard study of adult development, researchers discovered that relationships with others are one of the ingredients for a happy and healthy life. They found that deep and meaningful friendships — having people you can unquestionably count on when problems arise — can improve resilience to life's hardships and reduce stress.
This research validates what I have experienced coaching and advising many high-performing teams: Healthy team relationships are a catalyst for personal happiness (and contentment) within an organization. And healthy relationships set the table for growth, retention and team health.
Flourishing relationships within a team encourage transparency, allowing communication to flow fluidly between members and the team leader. A byproduct of this team cohesion is greater performance.
It appears that healthy relationships are the ultimate performance enhancer.
Assessing Your Team's Emotional Health
Though we love to feign fortitude and grit, often we're fragile, tired and failing to maximize our time. People naturally tend to become resentful when they feel underappreciated or unheard. Teammates often pull back emotionally, become passive-aggressive and start to believe that they are no longer a good fit within the organization. Gauging your team's emotional health is therefore vital for the prevention of burnout, alleviation of stress and encouraging team cohesion.
Elite teams typically embrace their vulnerability and champion it rather than cowering from it. Reading the energy levels, productivity and happiness of your team isn't easy and requires a deep connection to the nuances of each team member. In today's world, where about two-thirds of full-time employees say they're burned out at work, simply getting to know the basic needs of your team better seems to be one of the biggest indicators of success. Think about personalizing your team meetings by asking questions designed to encourage deeper understanding. Consider asking these important questions:
• What is the bravest decision you ever made growing up, and how did this influence your life or what you value?
• What's something you have always wanted to do, and how can our team help you achieve this goal?
• What's the proudest moment of your life, and how has it affected your collaboration with friends or members of your team?
When we take the time to better understand each other's personal stories, the walls begin to fall and relationships deepen. We become more human and vulnerable to each other, which helps expand trust and creates a healthier, more cohesive community. Channels of communication need to be open and fluid within teams. Practice having courageous conversations while being sensitive to the diversity of emotions and opinions within the room.
Realted: eLearning Solutions for you
Encouraging A Culture Of Camaraderie
Elite teams have purpose and trust within their ranks; team members never doubt the heart of their fellow members. True camaraderie creates a community built on ever-present trust to help team members shoulder burdens and quickly solve problems.
According to a Deloitte survey of 3,300 executives in 106 countries, culture is the most important challenge for companies around the world. A flourishing culture is often a prerequisite to economic success despite the tendency to think it's the result.
In my experience, the culture and vision of a company can only be fully solidified when the whole team gets on board and strives to make that vision a reality. There's truth in the proverb "If you want to go fast, go alone; but if you want to go far, go together." Speed, agility and individual initiative are essential today, but when you sacrifice input from your team, relationships often break down and are replaced with misunderstanding. When group cooperation dissolves, teams often lose their sense of purpose and stray from the overall vision. Don't succumb to the temptation to sprint ahead of your team; instead, use the resources provided by group members to fully realize your team's vision.
If you are serious about creating a team with stronger camaraderie, start by looking in the mirror. Are you comfortable courageously telling your own story? Would others consider you a leader who embraces vulnerability or transparency, and do you let your guard down? Do you invest enough time inquiring into the stories of every member of your team?
I have found in my own coaching practice that leaders set the emotional tone for everything, including the level of camaraderie exhibited by members of their team. If you want deeper connectivity within the group, you must go first. Practice sharing parts of your own story, especially the most difficult moments that have defined you. Practice being more human and letting yourself be seen. Allow others to enter your own story.
We consistently observe in athletics and private and public sector organizations that the team with the most talent doesn't always win. Winning organizations are much more than recruiting top talent; they are a blend of talent and cohesiveness. Boundless talent with no internal cohesiveness will undoubtedly result in untapped potential. Talent, alignment and team cohesion are the ultimate competitive advantage and should be the end goal of any team.
What are you doing to encourage healthy relationships and cohesiveness among your team members?
