In order to create constant Team Innovation, first and foremost, the manager needs to understand the characteristics and traits of a well-functioning team.
Here are the Top Seven Characteristics of a high performance team that leads to steady and substantial Team Innovation:
1. The atmosphere is relaxed and informal, and work is fun
How does this compare to your team? Is very team member looking forward to their work day? Are they coming to work happy & enjoying what they do?
2. The task and goals are clearly understood by all group members
Do you have a team mission & vision statement? Is it well aligned with your company's mission & vision? Do all members know what they need to carry out on a day to day basis? What are the monthly & quarterly goals?
3. Ideas and feelings are expressed freely and openly, and with creativity
Are you coming in the way? Do you encourage employees to express their ideas & feelings, or discourage them? Who brought up the last big idea? Did you reward that person? Do you have ways to catch good ideas?
4. Conflict is productive and often, centered on issues as opposed to on people
Conflicts are healthy. Often, conflicts lead way to great ideas & solutions. But, they should be always about issues & challenges, and not about people. Create a mindset to pay immediate attention to all conflicts, and resolve them so that everyone's happy about the solution.
5. The group is aware of its own functioning and dynamics, including inefficiencies
This is important! Group dynamics are core for a well-functioning team. Everyone should be aware of everyone's strengths, and weaknesses. And the role of a great team manager is to create positive group behavior, and help those who need help.
6. In almost all cases, decisions are made by consensus, and consensus is not forced
Do you always make decisions for the entire team, or help them make a decision? It is important that everyone's opinions are taken into account whenever faced with a big decision. And it's equally important to keep all decisions transparent and communicate about them to your team members.
7. When individual tasks are assigned, they are accepted and carried out in a timely manner by group members
Is your group member on the same page with you on what needs to be done, how it needs to be done, the quality of work, and by when? What are the dependencies? What resources do your team members need to complete the tasks? Make sure they have what they need to deliver in a timely manner.
*Adapted from Nelson, D. L. & Quick, J. C. (2000) Organizational Behavior: Foundations, Realities, & Challenges, Cincinnati: South-Western Publishing and eCornell.
How does a manager create such a high performance team and successful Team Innovation?
Creating Team Innovation - Chapter Two will provide further details on this.
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If you enjoyed reading this Innovation best practice, I recommend the complete list of Creativity Innovation Best Practices.
References:
eCornell
How does Apple, the #1 innovative company in the world, innovate and create game changing innovations such as the iPod, iTunes, iPhone, iPad and more? What is Apple's secret recipe for innovation success?
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