Remember back to your elementary school days.  It’s recess.  You are picking boys and girls from the group to be on your team.  You want to WIN!!  You have to choose one more for your team.  Your choice is Terrell Owens, wide receiver for the Dallas Cowboys, or Story Musgrave, scientist/astronaut.  Who would you choose?  Before answering that question, let’s delve into the topic of teamwork.

Achieving results and success requires teamwork.  This is true of any organization no matter its size or complexity.  As a manager, you are responsible for the effectiveness of your team and fostering an environment in which teamwork will thrive. 

A high performance team does not simply occur by throwing together a few “superstars.”  A high performance team occurs when each member understands and plays his/her role on the team.  Cohesiveness is the extent to which members are loyal and committed to the group; they work well together, support and trust one another, and are generally effective at achieving their chosen goal. [1]

To increase team cohesiveness, focus on five factors:

• Establishing intergroup competition - A group tends to come together when competing against an opponent.
• Assigning compatible members (individuals with a personal attraction) to the group - If each member of a group desires to be part of it, then this naturally enhances cohesiveness.
• Creating opportunities for success by which the group receives a favorable evaluation - When a team wins a sales contract or achieves a milestone and receives recognition from management, this increases cohesiveness.
• Establishing agreement on the goals of the group - All members of the group must agree on the goals to achieve and work towards those goals as a unit.
• Fostering frequent interaction among group members - Increased cohesiveness is more likely to occur as the group members interact more frequently with one another. [2]

Now, with a better understanding of creating an effective, results-oriented team, let’s go back to our playground example.  You need to fill one more slot on your team.  Who is your best choice given the factors of team cohesiveness?

Choice 1: Terrell Owens.  Has had six 1000-yard seasons.  Holds the NFL record for number of receptions in a single game.  Drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in 1996 and then traded in 2003 due to feuding with the head coach and the quarterback.  Picked up by the Philadelphia Eagles, was suspended for most of 2005 season due to a contract dispute and conflicts with fellow team members, and finally released in 2006 following several detrimental incidents to the team. [3]

Choice 2: Story Musgrave.  Entered the Marine Corps in 1953 and won the National Defense Service Medal and Meritorious Unit Citation while completing assignments in the Far East.  In 1967, was selected as one of the first scientist-astronauts by NASA.  Was the first to fly in all five space shuttles.  Ties the record for the most spaceflights by an astronaut.  At the age of 62, held the record as the oldest person in orbit until John Glenn returned to space in 1998.  Received the NASA Distinguished Service Medal in 1992.  Retired from NASA after a 30-year career. [4]

If your goal is to be the playground kickball champs, either choice 1 or 2 may be suitable.  If your goal is building an effective team capable of achieving results, then your choice is quite obvious.  Seek and choose your team members based upon their ability to be cohesive with others and your team will surely be successful.

[1] Griffin, Ricky W.  Fundamentals of Management.  4^th Ed.  Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2006.  pg. 438.

2 Griffin, Ricky W.  Fundamentals of Management.  4^th Ed.  Boston:  Houghton Mifflin, 2006. pg. 439.

3 Wikipedia.  05 Sep 2006.  Terrell Owens.