Whether you are implementing TQM, or just want to increase effectiveness or employee morale, developing effective cohesive teams is a good tactic. But teams ain't simple. We are going to devote the PSM supplement to examining some principles related to team-building with particular emphasis on the role of the manager or supervisor. Mark Sanborn, an expert on teams, outlines a few characteristics of a team. First, Sanborn defines a team as being composed of a highly communicative group of people.
Poor communication means no team.
Second, Sanborn suggests that a team must have members with different backgrounds, skills and abilities, so that the team can pool these things to be effective. In other words a team with no diversity in it will be unlikely to work in an innovative fashion. Third, and perhaps most importantly, a team must have a shared sense of mission. Whether we are talking about a temporary work improvement team, or a branch, all members must share the sense of mission. Fourth, a team must have clearly identified goals.