Creating an effective team through managing the intricate dynamics of teamworking has never been more important. Multi-locational and hybrid teams are here to stay, so it is imperative in 2023 that leaders set the tone and create environments where individual members and teams can flourish. Engendering positive team dynamics can help productivity, ensure morale stays high and get everyone pulling in the same direction.

What are Team Dynamics? 

Given the infinite diversity of what can be described as a team, there is no single definition of what constitutes “team dynamics”. However, the term is commonly used to refer to the myriad psychological factors which can impact how a team functions. 

Team dynamics consider how each individual member of a team interacts with colleagues to contribute to overall team and organisational goals. 

Attributes of team dynamics obviously are very dependent on the nature and aims of a given team. However, examples of factors that influence team dynamics include – communication, leadership, accountability, clear definition of roles, expectations, recognition and the consistent dissemination of information.

Related topic: How to create an effective workflow for your team?

Communication is placed at the head of this list for a reason! There is a broad consensus among experts that effective communication is of fundamental importance in encouraging positive team dynamics. If communication is clear and respectful, then other positive team dynamics tend to flow from it.  

Causes of Poor Team Dynamics

Starting on a somewhat negative note, poor team practices can spell serious issues for organizations and individual team members – from poor productivity at the organizational level to increased stress and burnout at the personal one. 

The factors that can cause poor team dynamics are:

1. 1. Poor communication – Unsurprisingly, given the importance of effective communication in team dynamics, poor communication can suck the life out of teams. 

The key aspects of poor communication in teams include – conveying unclear or incomplete information and messages, an inability to handle disagreements respectfully, a reluctance to have difficult conversations and a lack of empowerment of team members to have their voices heard. 

2. 2. Lack of respect for colleagues’ roles – At worst, this can manifest itself in disrespectful behavior, but at a lower level can also be a lack of understanding of a colleague’s role and what an individual can bring to the team and the organization. 

3. 3. Unfocused meetings – When meetings don’t have a clear purpose, and especially when they don’t have clear outcomes or takeaways. Team members can end up ‘going through the motions’ – especially in a hybrid working context.

4. 4. Lack of personal accountability – This is intimately connected to effective communication and can be a scenario where team members are not fully aware of their roles, responsibilities, and even to who they report.

 

Find out more on this topic in Establishing team norms in the workplace article.

Positive Team Dynamics and 6 tips how to achieve it

Good communication practices are top of the list of attributes of positive team dynamics. While there is no perfect tonic that can be universally prescribed to improve dynamics in every team, careful workforce planning, allied with the following attributes, are useful guidelines for promoting better ways of working together. 

1. 1. Effectively clear communication – The fundamental importance of effective communication is worth repeating ad nauseam! All aspects of other positive team dynamics flow from clear, open and transparent communication. 

2. 2. Respectful debate – Disagreement can be very healthy. Nobody wants to have a team of ‘nodding dogs and it is healthy to have a range of opinions in any team. However, respectful debate should be a given, as is a willingness to compromise and an ability to see the bigger picture. 

3. 3. Self-awareness – Team members and leaders should be acutely aware of how their behavior and attitudes affect others. This self-awareness includes a desire to self-analyze behavior and attitudes and to if necessary change behavior to be a better team member and/or leader. 

4. 4. Effective leadership – Related to the above, leaders should be exemplars of behaviors, demeanors and attitudes that are laser-focused on promoting the best team dynamics. The behavior of those in leadership positions sets the tone for organizations as a whole, and leaders should constantly challenge themselves so that they are setting a positive example. 

5. 5. Productive meetings – Team members should always have a clear understanding of the purpose of any meeting that they virtually or physically attend. Meetings shouldn’t be held for the purpose of simply turning up to give a team the chance to catch up and chat. Rather, meetings should have clear goals, and attendees should leave with clear takeaways and action items. 

6. 6. Understanding of the team’s mission – All team members should have a clear understanding of the purpose of the team’s work. This may seem obvious but often isn’t as clear as it should be. Employees should have a keen understanding of the organization they work for’s mission and the importance of their team’s role in achieving it. 

Effective team dynamics are built on clear, open and respectful communication. An understanding of individual roles and relationships based on trust and support characterize successful teams. Check the list of strategies that can be employed to ensure teams have positive dynamics.

Overall, there is no ‘secret sauce’ to positive team dynamics. The mix of ingredients will vary from team to team. However, respectful communication and empathetic leadership are constants in any successful team. A sleek up-to-date resource planning tool like Weekwise, which is fully compatible with Slack, can help managers and team members truly understand their work and resources, and identify any negative team dynamics before they become issues.