Creating an Ideal Team: Crucial Phases Explained
In his book "Dream Teams", Shane Snow offers valuable insights into the common mistakes that non-high-performing teams make and how to avoid them. Here's a summary of his key points:
Common Mistakes in Non-Dream Teams:
- Overemphasis on individual talent: Many teams focus on assembling the "best people" rather than fostering a collaborative group dynamic.
- Poor communication: Misalignment on goals, responsibilities, or expectations can lead to inefficiencies and misunderstandings.
- Lack of psychological safety: Team members may feel hesitant to share ideas or concerns, stifling innovation and creativity.
- Inadequate diversity in perspectives: Groupthink and a lack of innovation can result from a homogenous team composition.
- Rigid roles and hierarchies: Stifling creativity and flexibility by adhering to strict roles and hierarchies can hinder a team's potential.
- Ignoring team culture and relationships: Low trust and motivation can develop when team culture and relationships are overlooked.
How to Avoid These Mistakes:
- Prioritise team chemistry: Select members who complement each other and collaborate well, rather than just focusing on star power.
- Encourage open communication and trust: Building psychological safety is crucial for fostering an environment where team members feel comfortable sharing their ideas and concerns.
- Foster diversity in skills, backgrounds, and thinking styles: A diverse team will boost innovation and intellectual friction, leading to better problem-solving.
- Cultivate a culture of continuous learning and openness to failure: Embrace the opportunity to adapt and improve by learning from mistakes.
- Design flexible roles that encourage autonomy and shared leadership: Encourage team members to take ownership of their projects and work together effectively.
Shane Snow's principles emphasise the importance of focusing on how members work together rather than just who is on the team. By following these guidelines, teams can strive to become high-performing "dream teams".
Shane Snow is an award-winning journalist, co-founder of Contently, author of "Smartcuts" and "Dream Teams", and a fellow of the Royal Academy of Arts. His research shows that true diversity means a variety, going beyond diversity in race and gender alone. He encourages collaborative thinking, the pairing of diverse team members, and the importance of intellectual friction in problem-solving.
Research indicates that diversity training may not improve feelings of inclusion for individuals in the minority, but may instead make them feel more marginalized. For individuals in the majority, diversity training may cause feelings of nervousness about saying or doing the wrong thing. Shane Snow suggests giving team members the freedom to be themselves while holding them accountable for getting results.
Productive conflict often leads to increased problem-solving and should not be avoided. Shane recommends determining the type of problem before recruiting team members, whether it's a novel or routine problem. He suggests thinking about building teams like casting a play or movie, where the best team member for each role should be chosen project-to-project.
Shane Snow received Columbia University's Innovator Award and his writing has appeared in Fast Company, Wired, and The New Yorker. Contently is one of Inc.com's fastest-growing companies. Shane Snow's favorite team is the first female detective in America, Kate Warne, who brought a new perspective to the industry and was known for her ability to connect with people differently.
In a 2013 study, participants who were told they would be debating someone of the opposing political party prepared more and came in with more clever talking points than those who were told they would be debating someone of their own political party. This study underscores the importance of diverse perspectives in problem-solving and decision-making.
An entrepreneur in the field of finance might find Shane Snow's insights on team dynamics particularly valuable, as he highlights the importance of team chemistry, open communication, diversity, learning environment, flexible roles, and culture in enhancing business performance.
In his research, Shane Snow encourages every entrepreneur to consider intellectual friction as a key element for fostering a collaborative team, leading to innovation and effective problem-solving in the business world.
