Best Practices for Dynamic Teamwork

Teams almost always have more potential than they are currently utilizing. Here are ten tips from Marcia Hughes, co-author of The Emotionally Intelligent Team, for ensuring success in 2010.

1. Be purposeful. It’s impossible to do a good job if you don’t know what you’re supposed to do! Does your team have a clearly defined purpose?

2. Be your individual best. The emotional intelligence of each and every team member contributes to the capability of the team as a whole. What must each person do to build their EI skills?

3. Contribute emotionally intelligent leadership. Manage yourself and coach others towards success. How can you equip others to develop a greater capacity for EI?

4. Develop your team identity. Choose what you want to collectively be known for and act accordingly. What unique identity will bring you together as a cohesive unit?

5. Know what motivates each team member individually and what motivates the team as a whole. Intentionally embrace the diverse motivators within the team. Don’t know what motivates your team mates? Ask them.

6. Be more aware of the emotional signals you are sending as well as those you receive. Emotionally aware teams are much more productive because they use all the data being transmitted, including non-verbal information. Who can you ask to provide you with some feedback?

7. Communicate, communicate, and communicate. Don’t rely too much on e-mail. Go talk to someone. What can you do to increase the overall level of communication within your team?

8. Manage stress. Stress is a gift when it comes in the right dose. Look for challenges that motivate you but make sure to honor work/life balance for yourself and for your team mates. What can you do to strike the right balance?

9. Optimize conflict. Conflict isn’t good or bad until the team takes the inciting event one direction or the other. Be willing to consider other people’s perspectives and, in times of conflict, ask yourself, “Would I rather be happy or be right?”

10. Intend to trust the team as a whole. Trust develops as a result of respectful, consistent, and active communication and emotionally intelligent relationship building. What will you do right now to model trustworthiness?