Five reasons why outstanding individuals needn't guarantee an outstanding team

Every manager wants to have excellent subordinates. Unfortunately, even the best individuals together do not necessarily form a great team. Why is this so, and how can a leader truly unite outstanding members in a cohesive, productive team?

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Different priorities

According to Forbes, even an apparently stellar team can lack cohesion and productivity because of differing priorities among its members. Each person may care about something slightly different and have a different vision of success or the team’s direction. The key is for the manager to present a unified vision and create a single shared goal towards which the team can collectively strive.

Lack of team skills

Unless they possess the necessary soft skills, even the most talented individuals with excellent hard skills and technical expertise cannot create an effective team. Managers must therefore nurture teamwork, willingness to compromise, and strong communication abilities among their subordinates.

Too powerful egos

Successful and productive people often have inflated egos and when these strong egos meet in one team, unhealthy competitiveness and reluctance to cooperate may arise. The team leader should then recognise the strengths of individual members and continue to develop and utilise these qualities in a way that benefits the team as a whole.

Unclear communication

Unclear communication channels, poorly defined roles, or ambiguous communication processes are frequent reasons why even a team which appears excellent on paper cannot reach its full potential. Thus team managers should focus consistently on the effectiveness of both internal and external communication.

Team that is either too homogeneous or too heterogeneous

A team may consist of people who are too similar, which prevents them from building unique positions where they can apply their distinctive strengths. Conversely, it may comprise individuals who differ too greatly in mindset, priorities or working style. Both extremes have equally negative consequences: the team’s inability to function cohesively. A team should be diverse and value different opinions and approaches, yet its members must still share a common vision and a sense of collaboration.

 

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Article source Forbes.com - prestigious American business magazine and website
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