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I recently read an article by the Institute of Coaching (IOC) that got me thinking about coaching, leading and managing teams – work that I love to do.

Defining a team

Let’s start with a simple definition of a team. Essentially, a team is a group of people who come together to do collective work. They must be committed to a common team purpose and challenging goals related to that purpose. Without these three factors – collective work, common purpose, and common goals – no group will become a team. This may sound simple, and yet frequently the differences between teams and groups are overlooked, causing significant frustration for leaders and members alike.

Evolving team dynamics

Research around team dynamics and systems frameworks that inform team coaching began to take shape in the 1960s. Those frameworks, however, aren’t holding up as well in the new, networked way that many teams are operating today. Team dynamics are becoming much more agile, less linear, more flexible and more nuanced than ever before.

Broadening the coaching perspective

As coaches, and as affirmed by the IOC article, we find that effective team coaching (whether by coaches, team leaders, or managers) needs a broader systems perspective to better fit the emerging future. We need to expand our view to recognize that organizations and teams are truly complex networks of human relationships and conversations that are interconnected and unpredictable. This requires attention not only to the internal team processes and relationships but also to the wider network of stakeholders outside of and connected to the team.

In fact, effective team coaching means letting go of controlling outcomes and instead focusing on influencing the team by engaging with their experiences.

Implications for leaders and managers

What might this mean for leaders and managers? Once a clear goal is established, shift your focus from driving for outcomes (or “what” the team is working on) to influencing how the team operates and works together toward their common goal.

Thanks for stopping by.  We hope you found at least one little nugget you are taking away with you.  What will you do to bring it into full living color?

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