In today's workplace, teams have become the cornerstone of how work gets done. Yet, the reality of what makes teams truly effective often differs from our idealized vision. Organizational psychologists Ted Freeman and Stacey Philpot reveal the tensions and truths that shape modern team dynamics.
High-performing teams don't operate in constant harmony. Even the most successful teams face moments of struggle and require continuous effort to maintain their performance. The journey isn't a straight line – it's a dynamic process filled with both victories and challenges.
Every team member grapples with three fundamental tensions:
Teams often get stuck in the "report-out" rut – spending valuable meeting time sharing updates rather than collaborating. Effective teams instead focus on three key areas:
A critical yet overlooked aspect of team effectiveness is how members handle stress. Team members need to understand:
This awareness prevents negative emotional cycles that often derail team performance.
Creating a high-performing team requires:
The secret to building effective teams isn't about eliminating tension or achieving perfect harmony. It's about acknowledging and managing the natural dynamics that exist in any group. As Freeman notes, "High-performing teams manage these tensions well."
For leaders and team members alike, this means moving beyond the myth of the perpetually harmonious team and embracing a more realistic approach. In today's complex business environment, where more work than ever happens through teams, understanding and embracing these realities isn't just helpful – it's essential for sustainable success.
