Launching a New Team?

Posted on by Virginia Diamond


Have you ever been excited to join a team, thinking of all that you could accomplish together? Some teams achieve all that but… 

Too many find that the way people worked together got
in the way of the work itself.

Only in hindsight do people realize the team
could have done so much more. And they regret the loss.


Teams of all sizes can be a source of tremendous strength, strategic advantage, and impact—if attended to and cared for properly. And right now, we don’t have the luxury of future regret. Instead, we can do more by lowering friction from the start.

But purpose-driven teams can find it hard to make the space to pay attention to how they work together: how they make tough decisions, clarify roles, prioritize in the face of competing demands. Part of the trap is that planning how to work together can feel like a distraction from “real work,” unnecessary because their “team is professional” or “we just don’t have time.” “We’re all here for the same reason. If we get important work done, everything will work out.”  All this is magical thinking.

Just as in a marriage, hope and commitment alone are
not enough to deliver on promise.

Prepare before you tie the knot, or at least early in the relationship, so you meet the moment today and increase your odds long-term.

We urge leaders at all levels to take the time to work on a few specific building blocks, to make sure how your team works boosts the work, instead of holding you all back.

What are the core building blocks for team “premarital” counseling?

    1. Clarify your purpose

      What is the higher goal that this team is invested in, that brings you together in the first place? State it out loud, write it down. Don’t worry about having a perfected vision statement you share with the whole world – just determine your touchstone, why you are galvanized to work together. Having a clear purpose strengthens and energizes partnerships and guides you when times are tough.

    2. Know your strengths and weaknesses

      What tasks is each person (or division/office/team) best at? Worst? How do they complement each other? Where might people need help and how will they get it?

    3. Set clear expectations and roles

      What do people bring to the table? Who is responsible for what? How will you work together?

    4. Establish how and who will make decisions

      For each major workstream, define who is responsible; who has veto/approval power; who simply needs to be informed and who needs to provide what support.

    5. Follow the ‘no festering’ / be honest rule

      It’s not conflict that kills a partnership. Conflict is not only inevitable, it is a requirement for getting the best solutions. If you have an issue, raise it. If you see a challenge, name it. People can find all sorts of excuses to avoid.

      Letting disagreements fester is what derails partnership.
      Agree to bring up issues as soon as you notice them.

    6. Schedule regular check-ins to review how you’re working together

      Fulfilling the purpose of your partnership, and how to act on what you are learning. Create the space to discuss concerns routinely before they become crises. Do yourselves a favor: protect this small investment of time.  Otherwise, teams get consumed by immediate work. Following that tempting siren call feels productive, but is actually an avoidance strategy that makes work unnecessarily harder. And our work right now is hard enough.

    7. Identify your support early.

      Who are your advisors, mentors, coaches who can help when times get tough, or even before? Problems are much harder to solve once they are entrenched. 

    8. Find the joy!

      Yes, the times are challenging. No question. But humor, fun, enjoyment – they are not detracting from the work. They are what keep us fresh and in the work. Flogging ourselves does not boost productivity, counterintuitive though that might be for some of us. ☺

Working with a team coach focuses your time and accelerates benefits.

We share these building blocks so that teams can start talking, even counsel themselves. And our coaches are here to partner with you. 

Investing in team “premarital” coach counseling accelerates this process, and helps you
see around corners based on our experience.

 

We create a way to constructively, honestly talk about tough subjects and resolve difficulties together.

Click here to read more about our team coaching service, and here to reach out for a complimentary consultation.