Top 10 Characteristics of Effective Teams that Outshines in an Organization!

Quixy Editorial Team

August 10, 2023

This article was first published on Customer Think.

“If everyone is moving forward together, then success takes care of itself.”

Henry Ford

We absolutely love this quote by him because it perfectly expresses why it is vital to build effective teams!
High-performing teams are a reflection of an industry-leading business. Because when everyone works together, performance doubles.

But what makes the team an Effective team?
A successful team is all about how members work together. It shares unique characteristics, from setting goals to communication. It can translate employees’ hard work into more profitability and productivity. Here’s the list of top characteristics of effective teams.

List of the Top 10 characteristics of effective teams

1. Properly delineated roles and objectives

A chief characteristic of a high-performing team is that it has commonly defined goals to work towards. And these common goals can help employees create their own goals and a plan for attaining them.

And while each team member performs a specific function, they could cross-function with other roles. It allows employees to develop soft and team management skills, ensuring a project’s successful completion.

2. Resourceful

Being resourceful means seeing potential in things that others might discard as useless – it entails finding opportunities where none appears to exist.

A resourceful unit is well-viewed as a knowledgeable and Efficient team. Such highest-performing teams are like innovators; they can find new solutions and know how to get things done.

For example: When a team generates new ideas like how to implement a new project at a low cost, which also carries a more remarkable impact.

Also Read: The Top 7 Causes of Low Productivity Levels

3. Engagement

While numerous aspects contribute to a cohesive and effective team, Engagement perhaps is the most crucial characteristic of effective teams.

Employee engagement is a strategic corporate goal since it leads to long-term employee retention, increased employee performance, higher work quality, and organizational success. Moreover, studies show that employees that are engaged are 87% less likely to quit their job.

4. Adaptability

When it comes to the business environment, adaptability to new changes is a must for a business to survive.
Being adaptable also entails being willing to learn and experiment with new things.

It can aid in developing an optimistic mindset among team members.
And which can positively influence the team’s ability to take on new challenges, discover new opportunities and contribute to new projects.

For instance, the pandemic has already shown us that even the highest-performing teams can’t work if they don’t adapt to the newer environment.
To enhance adaptability, businesses have started using no-code tools. These tools enable users to create solutions without writing code and enable them to make changes in the app according to the changing business environment.

Also Read: 20+ Smart Time Management Activities for Highly Productive Teams

5. Diversity

According to Fundera’s findings,” Diverse teams are 87% better at making decisions.”

Diverse backgrounds, ages, sexual orientations, and work experiences provide a competitive advantage. It enables people to celebrate and succeed together.

When coming up with project ideas, diversity ensures varied perspectives.
Therefore diversity has been a crucial component of unified, high-performing teams.

6. Strong leadership

Successful teams are led by someone well-liked and respected by their members. A leader doesn’t mean to be like a Hilter!

O.C. Tanner found, “When leaders connect their people to these pillars, employees are 373% more likely to have a strong sense of purpose and 747% more likely to be highly engaged while at work.”

A bold leader is like a voice to all and can lead the team through the process while showing respect, open communication, and transparency.

7. Communication

Efficient teams never shy away when it comes to giving personal input in a group. Freedom of communication ensures higher productivity and creates a sense of belongingness among employees.

According to the statistics represented by Pumble, “Teams who communicate effectively may increase their productivity by as much as 25%”.

It always encourages new opportunities and induces new ideas. Hence resulting in “Highly Engaged teams.”

8. Conflict/dispute resolution

When humans work together, it is natural that conflicts may arise due to differences in opinions. And as told, it’s inevitable!

But for High-performing teams, it is a way that ensures effective decision-making. Members should communicate politely, respect one another’s ideas, and negotiate to find an alternative.

9. Collaboration

Efficient teams have their own focused goals, but the contribution of such multiple highly engaged teams leads to success for a company.

Hence, collaboration is a vital characteristic of effective teams. It involves a continuous contribution of all when a problem arises and sharing suggestions to ensure planned outcomes.

10. Respect and Trust

To be a high-performing team, each member should trust and respect one another, which can be developed among employees through team-building activities.
It can contribute to the company’s growth through straightforward communication and assures job satisfaction.

For instance, one can do so by listening to others and valuing others’ time and workload.

The Bottom Line

97% of employees and executives believe a lack of alignment within a team impacts the outcome of a task or project.

On the other hand, teams that exhibit all the characteristics of effective teams are in the top 20% for connectedness, have 41% lower absenteeism, 59% lower employee turnover, and a 66% increase in employee wellness.

So, Why work smart when you can work “Brilliant” together?