When a bunch of people work together it does not mean that they are a team.
Neither does reporting to the same manager make them one
A unit of people is called a team if they have the following
- Shared vision- where they are collectively aspiring for an end state
- Shared goals – Where they share the short-term outcomes that they are working towards
- Interdependence – Where the performance of one person affects everyone as well as the overall outcomes
- Shared responsibility and accountability- Where the members are responsible for each other and the team’s success and hold each other accountable.
Simplest examples of a team are a football team or a music band.
When the above 4 factors are missing the unit is called a group where there is little or no interdependence. Instead everyone works on independent goals and outcomes.
Are you part of or leading a team or a group? How does the difference between the two change the way you look at these two sets of people? How does that change the way their performance should be managed?
To know how teams and groups function and need to be managed differently click here