Successful Self-Directed Teams

Managers face many obstacles when trying to establish self-directed high performing teams. Seventy-five percent of the United States work force is not fully engaged on the job. Lack of communication is on top of the list of difficulties managers may face when trying to establish a high performing team. Are the managers accessible? Are they open to new ideas and innovative strategies? Managers must ensure team members have access to them without interfering.

Openly communicating roles and implementing strategic processes ensures team members know what is expected of them. Other difficulties managers may face would be micro-managing. If team members feel as if they are being set-up to fail or constantly being questioned on decisions they make

Successful teams face conflicts and obstacles with the overall success of the team in mind. They provide support to team members on issues that may arise. Managers can help ensure teams are successful by providing the proper tools and resources needed to reach their goal, however, managers must not over step and try to micro manage their teams. Successful teams have to be able to problem solve on their own without the constant assistance of the manager. Managers have to pour the foundation with a common purpose, as a manager you must assign, articulate and educate your team on clear roles in ensuring they have all the tools and resources to do the job. Be open to communication, new innovative ideas and diverse thinking and always be willing to review and evolve processes that no longer work. High performing teams do not quit, they adjust (2014, Jul 12).

Success is measured in many ways. How the team worked together? How the team overcame conflict and obstacles? How the final project or task was completed. Some recommendations for success would be support. Management needs to be supportive from the beginning throughout the groups development process. The team should know the manager is behind the concept of the team and supports their

During this stage members will begin to question authority and knowledge of other team members, and lose focus of the overall goal or objective. This is where managers need to reinforce the need for collaboration and teamwork for the overall good of the team. This stage, though difficult and trying, is crucial to the success of the team, and managers have to be willing to step in to ensure team member get back on track while resolving conflict.

Then comes the norming stage, during this stage team members begin to relax and feel more comfortable around the group. They begin to trust each other and rely more on team members than they rely on the manager. The norming stage is when managers can step back and allow team members to grow on their own without the need for interference. The team now trusts each other and have successfully overcome obstacles and conflicts by this point, however the manager is still available to assist in ultimate decision