12 Team Behaviors That Drive Team Performance

6 Task Behaviors - to get the job done right.

1. Initiating:   Proposing goals, tasks, new definitions to problems and suggesting procedures or new ideas that initiate action within the team.

2. Information seeking and giving:  Asking for or offering relevant information, opinions, or suggestions.

3. Clarifying and elaborating:  Clearing up confusion, interpreting comments, developing suggestions, building on ideas, defining terms, and envisioning how something might work.

4. Summarizing:  Putting ideas and contributions together and presenting them to the team in an understandable way.  Restating information and ideas in a condensed form.

5. Coordinating:  Managing the flow of ideas or information.  Developing plans for how to proceed and keeping people focused on the task.

6. Decision Testing:  Checking with the team to see whether agreement has been reached and if team members are ready to move to decision making.  Ensuring enough alternatives have been considered.  Asking for clarification on which decisions are to be made by the team.  Ensuring that a decision has been made.

6 Maintenance Behaviors  – to develop the relationships and atmosphere needed to work well together.  

1. Encouraging:  Acknowledging, praising others and their contributions, encouraging participation by being responsive, friendly, and respectful of others.  Demonstrating acceptance and openness to others’ ideas.

2. Active Listening:  Suspending judgment and listening carefully in order to fully understand the ideas of others. Paying attention to non-verbal messages. Checking for understanding by paraphrasing.

3. Tension Reduction:  Easing tension and helping create an enjoyable atmosphere in which the team can stay focused on its tasks, suggesting fun approaches to work, and reminding the team to take breaks when needed.

4. Gatekeeping:  Increasing participation and communication by encouraging less talkative members to contribute or directly asking their opinions.  Controlling “air time” of more talkative members.  And suggesting procedures that encourage full participation and getting out all ideas.

5. Problem Solving:  Working to resolve or mediate conflict among team members. Admitting own errors, finding common ground, and communicating willingness to modify your own position.

6. Observing and Facilitating:  Observing your team’s processes (how team members are working together) and sharing your observations to help your team become aware of its effectiveness. Expressing your own feelings and asking others how they are feeling.