Developing an Executive Team

There is a common school of thought that smart people do not need to think about team process. This thinking assumes that we are all somehow innately programmed to function effectively within teams. Therefore teamwork is nothing more than common sense.

The flaw in this logic is best demonstrated through an obvious observation.

Dysfunctional teams are everywhere.

Contrary to conventional wisdom, executive teams may be more suseptable to team dysfunctions than other types of teams.

So how does one improve the performance of an executive team?

I will attempt to answer that question with answers to some common questions I've encountered as a executive team consultant, management faculty member, and team facilitator.

Question # 1 What should you focus on to improve executive team performance?

There are many good answers to this question. I use a task-expertise-person model of team effectiveness because it focuses the group's attention one the connections between changing tasks and the specific knowledge resources of their group.

Question # 2 How can you make a high quality decision in the limited time you have available?

Fortunately there are many structured group decision making tools available to help improve the quality and speed of your team's decisions. A good quality group decision process involves three equal steps: defining the task, a divergent thinking process (rapidly generating a wide array of options), and a convergent process (narrowing the options down to the best ones). Most executive teams report shortening the first two steps and moving quickly to the third step. This can be a mistake because it leads to tunnel vision and premature consensus (which can be a dangerous thing).

I wince whenever someone says "Let's Brainstorm!" Brainstorming can be helpful with divergent thinking but it does not get a group to a decision. In addition, there are better ways to get creative ideas out then simple brainstorming. I favor the Nominal Group Technique.

Question # 3 How do you pick the right team facilitator?

See the link for a detailed response to the question. One important point to remember is to not confuse a facilitator with a trainer. Facilitation requires different skills than training.

Question # 4 Will team building solve your team's problems?

Unlikely, unless combined with process training geared towards your unique team needs. Group perfrormance research has found little evidence to support the notion that team building activities not related to task of the group improve group task performance. There is some evidence that team building can improve group cohesion. Improved group cohesion can lead to a stronger group identity and thus increase team member motivation to contribute to the group.

So in the end team building can be a fun way to build group cohesion but there is little reason to believe that translates into better team process and decision making.

Question # 5 Should you train as a team or individually?

Watch out because the answer you get to this question will very often be favorable to the type of training someone is trying to sell to you.

Here I provide a way to decide the team training versus individual leadership training option.

Question # 6 How can you improve team communication?

This is a huge question and one which is often the motivation behind seeking help from a team expert.

No one can answer this question without asking you questions about the underlying problems. If you talk to a facilitator or trainer and they offer you answers to this question before asking for more detail, you should politely end the conversation and go ask someone else for advice.

What seems like a team communcation problem can be the result of poor team design, unclear tasks, power dynamics, misalignment of the team and organization, poor meeting management, etc.

The point is that virtually all team problems reveal themselves through a team member/leader sense of miscommunication.

Of course, sometimes bad communication is really about undeveloped team member communication skills. I can provide some basic guidelines for improving team communication skills. However, I always think it wise to dig deeper when you think your problem is team communication.