Creating a team identity

Creating a team identity is a great way to improve employee performance and help your business thrive.  Many business owners learn this the hard way; some never learn it at all!

If your team doesn’t naturally gel then it’s up to you to make it happen.

If you’ve ever worked in a project team there will almost certainly been a common goal – the project.  Forming a business team (especially in a small business) is much harder as the goal (shared vision) isn’t always clear.

Companies with a shared vision always seem to do well – think Google, Amazon, Apple).  It encourages people to overcome problems they may encounter along the way.

The following tips can help clarify your business/teams purpose, so use them to encourage team members to support each other and join forces to achieve the goal.

1. What’s the vision? 

Work with your team to set the destination.  This will get everyone looking in the right direction. Those members can understand and support.

2. Understand the working relationships

Who does what in the team (job descriptions) and understand each other’s work styles.

3. Agree the ground rules

You should develop its own work procedures.  Don’t let people slip into a thermal way of working as it not be right for the team.

4. Clarify each person’s authority

Clarify who has authority over what and how independent they can be.

5. Help people get along

It probably won’t just happen on its own. Your team members need to establish norms that they feel comfortable with and you will need to be mindful enough to anticipate issues.

6. Whose in control? 

Most teams have to have someone in control. If it’s your business then it should probably be you but keep an open mind.  This person is the organiser who keeps everyone focused on the destination.

Obviously this six point guide isn’t going to give you everything you need to know about creating a team but it will get you started!