Question

Organizational Behavior:

Many people use the terms group and team interchangeably. Should they? Distinguish the terms. Propose key ideas for what it takes to build highly productive team.

Answer 1

POINT	GROUP	TEAM
Performance	A function of what its members do as individuals	Performance includes individual efforts and collective work products which are the result of joint, coordinated attempts. Together for a task
Leader	Strong, clearly focused leader	Shared leadership roles
Accountability	Individual Accountability	Individual and Mutual Accountability
Meetings	Runs efficient meetings	Encourages open-ended, active, problem solving meetings
Skills	Random and Varied	Complementary
Synergy	Neutral (Sometimes –ve)	Positive
Functioning	Discusses, decides and delegates	Discusses, decides and does real work together

Ideas to build a highly productive team:

1. Synergy

A great team solicits diverse views and creative input from each other. They allow for healthy and vigorous debate on new ideas. The result is synergy.

Work is done at a faster rate because people feel valued and engaged -- their voices are heard. But it's the leader who is responsible for setting the stage and promoting such a culture

2. Open communication

A great leader also fosters an environment where people are allowed to talk openly because it's a trusted culture.

Feedback is a two-way street (given and received) and highly encouraged. This leader will make sure information is available and flowing freely, and be very clear on goals and expectations so the whole team is accountable to results.

By sharing knowledge and decision-making with her team, this leader models transparency which over time builds trust and morale for the whole team to be equally transparent with each other.

3. Safety and trust

Before collaboration happens, "pump the fear out of the room." That's when it is seen that ideas are flourishing; people feel safe to freely put all their ideas on the table without fear of judgment.

It's the leaders who must create space for others to experiment and fail, and when they do make mistakes, team members know that it's part of the learning environment.

Then there will be employees who are not afraid of taking risks. In fact, the community encourages it because it's safe to do so.

Closing thoughts

Studies are saying that a collaborative community is especially attractive for Millennials (now the largest working demographic).

And if you find yourself in the enviable position of building or hiring a new team, set the expectation early that a community of collaboration is a pillar and strength of your culture. Then promote it, advocate for it, model it, nurture it, support it, demand it, and watch it fly...