Approach
The “Team Effectiveness Discussion Guide” from Google's re:Work program lists several indicators for improvement and questions about team collaboration. The following five factors have emerged from the “Aristotle” project as particularly relevant for team effectiveness at Google:
- Psychological Safety
- Dependability
- Structure and Clarity
- Meaning
- Impact
In team-building workshops, the “Team Effectiveness Discussion Guide” can be used as a starting point. In group discussions, team members should express their own opinions on the guiding questions, and everyone should have an equal number of opportunities to talk. As a warm-up, having each team member share a surprising trait or fun fact about themselves will make it easier to start the discussion. Those who aren’t speaking pay attention without interrupting or judging. Designate one person as the moderator, and visualize the time spent talking by passing an object or throwing a ball to each other.
Effect
Using the “Team Effectiveness Discussion Guide”, innovation teams can identify which factors are particularly relevant for their collaboration and which factors may even harm it. All team members have equal opportunities to express their opinions. With the insights gained from the discussion, specific measures can be introduced to increase the quality and effectiveness of team collaboration. A group discussion along with guiding questions from the “Team Effectiveness Discussion Guide” can serve as a foundation for a team contract. Managers of heterogeneous teams also gain insights into group dynamics and can adapt their leadership styles accordingly.