If you type the question 'How to build a successful team?' into Google, you will get over 150 million results; a sea of steps, advice, and tactics that can be helpful to a manager, but may not be. Unfortunately for practical managers, a team is made up of people, unpredictable and emotional beneath the surface, so no strategy can guarantee one hundred percent effectiveness.
However, judging by the latest research published in Business Insider, there are indicators that suggest a manager has done a good job and organized a team that can be called successful. For example, one of the indicators of success is swearing and gossiping. As shown by research from the American agency for education and development Ignite80, members of ‘high-performing’ teams, compared to those from ‘low-performing’ teams, joke and tease colleagues more often, use GIFs and emojis in digital communication, and do not hesitate to swear in front of the team. They also frequently discuss non-business topics, talk about books and movies, gossip, and enjoy going for coffee and drinks. In other words, they are more friends than colleagues, and the closer they feel, the more effective the team will be.
The Role of the Manager
As psychologist and research leader Ron Friedman explained to Business Insider, every person has a need for belonging and closeness, which many managers overlook. In most business environments, managers focus on engaging top talent in the industry, paying little attention to relationships and the sense of belonging. And that, Friedman argues, is a mistake. In addition to being mindful of how team members feel and fit into a particular environment, they should also foster a friendly atmosphere themselves. This, of course, does not mean they should sit with them in pubs but should provide support, publicly praise excellent ideas, compliment good work, and recognize the efforts of the entire team or individual members.
