Diversity and ability to state one's opinion.
A homogeneous team, consisting of members who are similar in their knowledge, attitude and way of working, may only be able to face a limited range of challenges. And on the contrary, it is diversity that is typical for effectively working teams. Each team member should have a slightly different attitude, they should be an expert in a certain field, and together such a group can rely on a great source of rich and varied knowledge and skills. Given, of course, that the individual members are allowed to state their own opinion and use their unique skills.
Long-term outlook and sustainability of work.
As TED.com states, another important trait of a successful team is its emphasis on sustainability of work and on long-term, strategic planning. A team that works in an efficient way always deals with things in a way so that they are solved not only for the given moment, but also for the future if possible. A good team also needs to work in a sustainable manner. This is why you will not find workaholism, unhealthy competition or opaqueness in them.
Clear and inspiring common vision.
This point is obvious and evident. For a team to work in an effective way and be on the same boat, its members must be bound together by a common, inspiring vision. It is the task of you, the manager, to make this vision sufficiently powerful, believeable and motivating. In an efficient team, everybody knows what the target of the group is, what this target looks like and what reaching of this aim means for the given individual employee.
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