I recently watched a high school state track and field championship. At the beginning of the evening, the excitement among the athletes was palpable. Each athlete and team had such determination and grit — but, of course, not all of them were going to win their races or the meet. At the end of the evening, I watched as one coach brought his female and male athletes together. Some had won their events, others had placed, and others did not. The ... Continue Reading »
Teams
For great teamwork, start with a social contract
To turn groups of employees into great teams, a powerful first step is to form a social contract — an explicit agreement that lays out the ground rules for team members’ behaviors. A contract can cover territory such as how members will work together, make decisions, communicate, share information, and support each other. Social contracts clearly outline norms for how members will and should interact with one another. Team norms exist whether ... Continue Reading »