The Six Elements of Integral Teamwork
Written by Jonah Cacioppe
Across all industries, from sport to business, effective teams share common elements that contribute to their success. The six main factors of integral teamwork provide insight into how we too may improve our team effectiveness and achieve our overall goals.
Element 1: Right Vision and Goals
Integral Teamwork involves a team deriving a purpose and vision that resonates with all team members and motivates them to do their best. If a team doesn’t clarify its primary purpose and vision, there can be a considerable misuse of time and energy. Identifying and reaching consensus on the central direction of the team and its key objectives is vital to the success of the team. In addition, an Integral Team will work to align the individual goals of team members with the team goals.
Element 2: Right Leadership and Team Roles
An Integral Team has exactly the right people performing the roles and functions it needs to do its work. Leadership keeps the individuals in the team performing their roles effectively, while keeping a positive culture and looking after each team members’ wellbeing. The leadership style of an Integral Team will vary from supportive to directive, depending on the type of work needed and the level of skill and motivation of the team.
Element 3: Effective Procedures and Systems
The procedures that organise and control a team’s work can strongly influence its performance. Approval and use of resources, working conditions, technical expertise and decision-making procedures shape the way a team functions. In addition, reward systems are major motivating factors for a team. An Integral Team finds the right mixture of individual and team rewards. An Integral Team also regularly looks at its systems and procedures to ensure they are contributing to achievement of the team goals in a way that leads to employee and customer satisfaction.
Element 4: Positive Relationships and Culture
The heart of Integral Teamwork is the close and positive relationships that keep the team together through good times and bad. All team members do not have to like each other all the time, but they have respect and integrity in dealing with each other. The culture of the team arises from the informal and formal ground rules that define the relationships. The culture of the team needs to support the achievement of the goals and the way its customers should be treated. This includes the values and shared beliefs that team members have about each other, the organisation and the value of their work.
Poor interpersonal relationships between team members are often at the centre of many team problems. Lack of trust, conflict between specific team members and dislike of the leader’s style contribute to significant problems within the team. No matter how much is done to correct the procedures, resources, team roles or goals, some teams cannot function because of personal feuds among team members.
Element 5: Development and Learning
This is the foundation element of a team because development and learning provides the team with the ability to improve and correct its mistakes. An Integral Team values learning and development and continually looks for ways to improve, to find new ways of doing things that contributes to its vision, and to encourage the development of its team members. Individual team members are also encouraged to learn and grow.
Element 6: Organisational Alignment, Environmental Sustainability and Customer/Social Contribution
A team must align with its organisational environment. Some teams can be highly cohesive but can be antagonistic to the organisation, the community or the natural environment. An Integral Team will ensure that its goals are in alignment with organisational goals. In cases where this alignment does not occur it may mean that the organisation goals need to be modified because they are in opposition to the community or the natural environment. The Integral Team meets the genuine needs of its customers, employers, stakeholders, owners and the society in which it operates.
You can apply these 6 elements on the worksheet "What Makes a Great Team" below.