An effective team is one of the most important elements in all facets of a business. Whether you are working together to make the right decision for your company, or a think tank is actively brainstorming new innovations, teamwork is essential for success. But as the old saying goes, a chain is no stronger than its weakest link. The ability of your team to accomplish its goal rests upon the shoulders of the least active member. Not only do they contribute the least to the team, but they also drag down the entire team by breaking the spark of connectivity between active team players. This spark is only visible when every member of the team sees each other and their ideas as equals. Team accountability ensures each person is committed to the collective and the goal, and it’s up to their leader to hold everyone accountable. 

Level the Playing Field to Strengthen Team Accountability

To ensure every member’s contributions are maximized and the team is as effective as possible, implement these 5 practices: 

Promote free discussion

Make it clear that this is a judgment-free environment and all ideas are worth considering. When you foster a culture of learning and allow free discussion, people appreciate the additional perspectives of their teammates. 

Embrace disagreements

Use them as an opportunity for growth. Paired with free discussion, allowing room for disagreements enables open communication. The whole point of teamwork is to come up with ideas that would not have existed without the synthesis of people working together. Invite collaboration for ideas and listening to move people away from a focus on being right. Even if you as the leader are in disagreement with your team, there are ways to move forward and stay positive.  

Practice discipline and focus

No matter how intelligent the people in a team are, everyone is susceptible to distractions and thought processes that do not benefit the team’s goal. While free speech is encouraged, make sure it is on topic.  

Alternate who leads

“The strength of the team is each individual member. The strength of each member is the team.”

— Phil Jackson

Raise the bar

Get all of the team members active by being a good role model and displaying the qualities you promote. Every day, leaders have many moments to model respect and other core values they want to be reflected in their team and culture.  

Maintaining Team Dynamics

“Nothing builds self-esteem and self-confidence like accomplishment.”

— Thomas Carlyle 

There is truly no greater feeling than that of accomplishment, and what greater accomplishment is there than one that is so complicated and demanding that no one person could do it on their own? For most people, that feeling of cooperation and achievement is enough to keep themselves at their best at all times.  

It is easy to understand then that a successful team relies as much on its members as the members do on the team, a balance which is essential to keep in mind when participating in any group activity. If the group does happen to go off-topic or you sense that the mood is a little off, say something! Improving a situation is impossible without knowing and communicating the problem. To maintain the balance of your team, practice consistent and frequent feedback and speak up when the mood of the team seems off: 

Move forward together, 

Bobbie Goheen