Article Introduction
This article is a research white paper prepared by two authors from the Center of Creative Leadership (CCL). It explains, based on a comprehensive 6-month survey with 118 respondents, how teams are working in today's business world. Specifically, it explains the team trends, skills of team leaders, team outcomes and team obstacles.
Article Summary
Key Findings: The key findings of the research are as follows:
? Teams are central to success. They play a vital role in moving the organization forward and are essential change-bringing elements in the organization.
? Team leaders must be multi-talented. They must have strong leadership, management and communication skills, as well as a few personal attributes.
? Collaboration is the key. Teamwork defines teams. There must be effective communication between the members for the team to produce successful output.
? Teams are functioning below the optimal level. Many teams in the business world are under-potential. Programs are needed to make them realize their capabilities.
Trends in Teams: The following are the two major trends of teams these days:
? People participate on more than one team at a time.
? Teams are central to organizational success.
Characteristics of Teams: The following are the four major characteristics of teams these days:
? Teams have shared goals.
? Team members are geographically dispersed.
? Team members enjoy being part of the team.
? Team members learn from their mistakes
Skills of Teams Leaders: The following are the three major skills required for team leaders:
? Management Skills: Organizing, making decisions, project management, etc.
? Interpersonal Skills: Communicating, listeni ...