In recent years the use of the word team has become more popular in organizations. Instead of the executive staff we now have the leadership team. Instead of the sales department or the salesforce we have the sales team. When we need to work on a process improvement project or plan the Christmas party we pull together a team to make it happen. There are project teams, work teams, functional teams, review teams, and so forth.

Besides the fact that it is the popular thing to do, most likely we use the term “team” in hopes that it will motivate the members to work collaboratively, as if calling it a team will make it a team. And perhaps there is some psychological effect that encourages the people who are on a team to behave in a more team-like fashion.

A team is a number of persons associated together in work or activity according to the Merriam-Webster dictionary. Wikipedia defines a team as a group of individuals working together to achieve a goal, but then goes on to describe those team members as having complementary skills and generating synergy through a coordinated effort. Most simple definitions of a team would describe it as a group of people who share these traits:

Clear, common goals.The team members know what goal is to be achieved and they agree upon what that goal encompasses. This might be achieving a certain level of sales if they are the sales team, developing a better business process if they are a re-engineering team, or having a successful and enjoyable Christmas party if they are the party planning team.

Relevant and complementary skills.The team members each bring a variety of skills and strengths to the team with the idea that together they represent a full and robust set of skills required to achieve the goal. They are able to use these skills cooperatively as the team requires.

Good communication skills and habits.The team members are able to work together because they are able to communicate effectively within the group, describing the work to be accomplished, the part that each will play in that effort, and the assistance that each need from other members of the group.

The definition above would represent most people’s understanding of a team. Yet, these definitions fall short of defining a true and effective team. In 2017 the Cleveland Cavaliers basketball team attempted to build a championship team by signing a number of all-star players to surround the great player already on the team. These players all understood the goal, had the skills, and were able to communicate, yet they failed miserably because they did not coalesce into a team. They remained individuals and were not able to operate in unison as a team.

The above description of what is commonly termed a team is actually more of a workgroup. They are together because the work that they do can be more effective with some synergy between the group members. A true and effective team is built upon a strong relationship or bond between the team members, so that they can operate in unison, or as one body with different parts.

To become a true and effective team, requiring this strong relationship, all of the members must share the following traits:

Know and be known by each other.This requires that all members must be authentic, bringing their true self to the team, and vulnerable, willing to share their humanity with the team, including failures and weaknesses.

Accept each other.When the team members fully know each other, they must be able to accept the whole person represented within each of their team members. This requires knowing and valuing both the strengths and weaknesses of each other.

Trust each other.This level of trust is an extension of acceptance. It is the knowledge that no one on the team is going to be judged by their thoughts or actions or their successes or failures. This trust then enables debate on issues that does not move into personal conflict. It allows every team member to fully participate without any fear of judgement.

Love each other.The word love may be the most misused and misunderstood word in the English language. The definition from Paul Tripp, although originally intended for marriage, is applicable to the way that team members regard each other: “Love is willing self-sacrifice for the good of another that does not require reciprocation or that the person being loved is deserving.” Team members demonstrate the humility that values the other team members above themselves.

Submit to the group.In this team environment every thought is acceptable, but the team needs to make collective decisions. In a true and effective team, the members are each able to voice and argue for their point of view. But at the end of the day, every team member must be able to fully support the decision of the team, even when it is far different from their own opinion or recommendation.

Be accountable to each other.Each team member is diligent about carrying their share of the load and following through on commitments. While the team is able to trust each other and each one can submit to the team consensus, there are times when a team member might inadvertently stray from what is best for the team. True and effective teams are able to address, correct, and move past any failures or missteps.

Be committed to each other.A true and effective team requires a level of humility that places both the collective team and the other members of the team above each individual member’s own interests. Together the team members recognize the value and strength that is represented in the team and are committed to building and maintaining the relationships. Through the team, each member is committed to the collective goals of the team.

In his book “The Advantage”, author Patrick Lencioni argues that organizational health is the most important determinant of success. A true and effective team at the leadership level is one of the key elements of organizational health. It is easy to see how this model of a leadership team can be more effective than the so common group of executives fighting political battles for their personal agendas. The true and effective team requires considerable effort and a careful selection of team members, but the benefit is enormous, both for the leadership of the organization and for the organizational culture.

Thanks to my friend, Kevin McHugh, one of the country’s top executive coaches, serving CEO’s of Fortune 500 and other major corporations. This article grew out of a recent wide-ranging breakfast discussion with Kevin on the topics of leadership, emotional intelligence, character growth, and peer groups.

Is your organization’s leadership a team or a work group?