How To Lead Teams Effectively

I took “Foundations For Teams” class taught by Professor Kristin Behfar at the Paul Merage School of Business and while reviewing what I’ve learned so far, I want to share it with you on this blog.

By the way, I absolutely loved the class and think that Professor Behfar is such an amazing expert on organizational team management.

Go read more about Dr. Behfar and what she does here: The Secrets of High Performing Teams

Most of the concepts and information I’m going to talk about are from Professor Behfar’s material distributed in class, so she needs to get the credit. I’m just elaborating on what she has taught me.

Alright, let’s jump right into it…

A Key Concept to leading teams effectively is to… “match the correct style with the situation and team needs — there is no objectively right or wrong style.”

First of all, let’s define leadership…

Leadership is the process by which an individual influences others in ways that help attain group or organizational goals.

3 Factors Effecting Team Leader Effectiveness

1. Organizational culture, which includes the psychology, attitudes, experiences, beliefs and values (personal and cultural values) and expectations that are shared by members of an organization and are taught to new members as the correct way to believe, act, and perceive.

Organizational culture has a strong impact on leadership because leadership styles are more consistent within company than across companies, even in the same role or same industry.

2. The situation (e.g., time pressures, type of task, people involved, group history)

3. Leader’s personality

Culture is the glue that holds our organization together. It encompasses beliefs, expectations, norms, rituals, communication patterns, symbols, heroes, and reward structures. Culture is not about magic formulas and secret plans; it is a combination of a thousand things.”

Herbert D. Kelleher, Co-Founder and Chairman, Sourthwest Airlines

2 Components of Organizational Culture

A. Visible (Artifacts)

The things that you can observe by watching. For example, the office layout, dress, symbols, slogans, ceremonies, etc.

B. Invisible (Expressed Values and Underlying Assumptions)

The things that you can observe by listening. For example, noticing that the “organization members care about each other like a family.”

6 Ways Organizational Culture Socializes Leaders

1. Founder’s vision in creating and embedding culture

2. What leaders pay attention to, measure, and control

3. Leader reactions to critical incidents and organizational crises

4. Deliberate role modeling, teaching, and coaching

5. Criteria for allocating rewards and status

6. Criteria for recruitment, selection, and promotion

Now, let’s look at 3 ways culture can be recognized…

A. Culture can be recognized through the use of certain symbols, which can be objects, actions, or events that convey meaning, conscious or unconscious association.

Examples: titles, office size, photographs, parking privileges, and specialized language.

B. Culture can be recognized through the use of certain rites and ceremonies, which can include any organized or planned activities, communication of ideas, purpose, celebration of heroes, legends, accomplishments.

Example: Mary Kay’s culture can be identified through the use of film clips, fur coats, and pink Cadillac

C. Culture also can be recognized through the use of legends, stories, and heroes that are there to keep the values alive. In addition, telling stories socializes and identifies what the norms are, what is valued, and what is ideal.