Have you ever work in a group where it felt like everyone just “clicked”? There wasn’t any simmering tension, and it felt like each person’s strengths perfectly overlapped others’ weaknesses. This is not an accident: great leaders put tremendous effort into assembling groups that have a strong group dynamics.
What are group dynamics?
Group dynamics are a measure of the way a set of people operate together. It’s both the efficiency of how productive the group is (i.e. how much is accomplished and quality) and the ease with which the groups works together (i.e. how often the group gets stuck, how people help each other, etc). When we get the “working together” part right, it makes it far easier to accomplish results that are high quality.
It’s not easy to build effective groups at work, and it’s a skill that many leaders often practice to improve. The recipe comes down to 3 “ingredients”:
1. Alignment on plans
When each person understands what direction the team is going and why, they are aligned. Alignment ensures there is no ambiguity, and everyone can march in the same direction. This eases tension to help create a strong team dynamic. You can create alignment by writing down plans, getting early buy-in from the leaders who will be implementing the plans, and communicating regular progress.
2. Transparency on progress
As a team works together, inevitably issues will arise. Unforeseen problems will need to be addressed. In order to fix these issues, it’s critical that the team is transparent on the progress being made and issues encountered. This should be shared in weekly team meetings and written status updates.
3. Accountability for results
A team builds a great dynamic when they trust each other to deliver. Building a culture of accountability ensures that everyone will be held to a high standard. This trust and mutual understanding also helps contribute to effective group dynamics.
