In his book, The Advantage, Patrick Lencioni outlines six questions that every team must answer to get clarity on your team.
When I was young, I attended a fair where teams competed in a tug-o-war. The whistle blew, the boots dug in, and the teams used every strategy, muscle, and rhythm to drag the opposing team across the finish line.
Imagine a tug-o-war where each person is pulling in different directions at different times and in different ways. The result of that kind of team would likely include tripping over each other, confusion, and frustration – to name a few. A strong team clearly knows its purpose, strategies, positions, and actions.
Keep in mind that I am not talking about a leader sitting down, answering mission, vision, and value questions, and then leaving them in some messy corner or hard drive. No, we are talking about wrestling through these questions as a team, so that each member can pull in sync with the team.
Many times, as we work through these questions, a team will uncover areas of tension or confusion. Clearing up misunderstandings and articulating differences, however big or small, are part of the process. The goal is to make clear what your team is all about so that you can pull together. Here are six questions to consider:
What is your core reason for existing? This is the true purpose of your job. Your team needs to know why, what you are doing ultimately matters. There are many different reasons for existing as a team. The point is that your team knows your reason and talks about it often.
This isn’t about just coming up with a pithy catchy statement. Instead as you wrestle through the why as a team, you intentionally communicate with each other. Your why becomes a way to remind and encourage each other of what really matters.
What are your team’s deeply ingrained behaviors? Teams have deeply held values, whether articulated or not. Identifying the values of the team and communicating them, clears up a lot of hidden expectations. These behaviors are not what you hope your team to be or all the behaviors that a person should have. Instead, answering these questions should support the why and identify what is best about your existing team.
People crave clarity. Find three to four important behaviors for your team. Build Trust, Create Clarity, and Engage the Whole Team are ours at Team Verve.
What do we do?
This is the simplest of all the questions. It is your team’s basic definition and may include the basic activities. If the first question answers why this answers what. When teams get started, pioneers and entrepreneurs often try a variety of things to see what works. However, if you continue doing too many things, the only guarantee is that you will never be great at any one thing. It becomes crucial to identify what your team does well and wants to be the best at.
At Team Verve we provide interactive DISC training and Team Coaching for business and non-profit teams. The answer to this question may change more often than the first two questions.
What is most important, right now?
If everything is important, nothing is important. This question helps your team pull together towards one focus and priority. Think of it as the rallying cry or theme. This is singular, temporary, and shared. This question may need to be addressed at each meeting, each quarter, or annually depending on your team. Priorities for your team matter so take the time to pinpoint them.
Who must do what?
Does each member have a role on your team? Do they realize the value they contribute? The purpose of this is not to come up with fancy titles and job descriptions to boost one’s ego. But rather to give clear ownership to each member by clearly labeling their specific role on the team.
- Your team is brand new and just forming. This is an excellent time to articulate what your team is about to others and each other!
- Your team has worked together for so long that things were once answered but now are hard to recall. Vision, mission, and values are just creating dust bunnies at this point. It is time to take a step back and give your team a renewed focus.
- Your team is busy, pieces are flying everywhere, and you need to circle around and clear the clutter. It is time to work smarter, not necessarily just harder.
- Your team is going through a stage of transition. Change is upon you. Maybe the game is changing, leadership is transitioning, new people are joining, or the unexpected happened. Transition time takes extra communication and clarity as people are adjusting to new normals.
- Your team is having a hard time pulling together. Various tensions and priorities are pitted against each other. It’s time to clear the air and find where and how you can work well together again.
At Team Verve, we walk your team through these questions and develop your teams playbook. We use a variety of activities to get your whole team talking and involved in the process. We have found that as a team works through these questions together, they build trust, create clarity, and gain momentum. Ask Matt about The Advantage Workshop to get started.
Already have a Team Playbook? Check out this blog post for eight ways to use your playbook as a springboard for intentional team culture.
