Team Building

  What Makes A Team Cohesive?
What Makes A Team Cohesive

The Five Behaviors of a Cohesive Team™ is the result of the partnership between Wiley Workplace Learning Solutions and best-selling author Patrick Lencioni. Together we have created a team development program with a simple goal—to improve team effectiveness and productivity through the understanding and application of The Five Behaviors™: Trust, Conflict, Commitment, Accountability, and Results.

1. Trust

BUILDING THE FOUNDATION OF A COHESIVE TEAM

Trust lies at the heart of a functioning, cohesive team and can only happen when team members are willing to be completely vulnerable with one another. This includes saying things like “I’m sorry” or “Your idea was better than mine.” A personality assessment can help people gain insight on their peers and develop empathy, two important qualities that allow a team to build trust.

2. Conflict

ENGAGING IN HEALTHY CONFLICT

Conflict is naturally uncomfortable, but productive conflict focused on concepts and ideas is essential for any great team to grow. When teams have a foundation of vulnerability-based trust, conflict simply becomes an attempt to find the best possible solution in the shortest period of time.

3. Commitment

BUYING IN ON DECISIONS

Commitment is clarity around decisions, not consensus. With commitment, teams move forward with complete buy-in from every team member – including those who may initially disagree.

4. Accountability

HOLDING TEAM MEMBERS ACCOUNTABLE

It’s easy to avoid difficult conversations, but calling out peers on performance or behaviors that might hurt the team is essential to productivity. By “entering the danger” with one another, team members feel trusted, respected, and responsible for getting things done right.

5. Results

FOCUSING ON COLLECTIVE RESULTS

One of the greatest challenges to team success is the inattention to results. Great teams ensure all members, regardless of their individual responsibilities and areas of expertise, are doing their best to help accomplish team goals.

TRUST

Productive individuals thrive on teams that are based on trust—the foundation of The Five Behaviors™ model. In this program, teams discover how to view vulnerability as an opportunity for strengthening relationships among their teammates.

CONFLICT

When teams have a foundation of vulnerability-based trust, team members feel safe to engage in productive conflict focused on concepts and ideas. This conflict becomes a means for debating different perspectives and landing on the best possible solution.

COMMITMENT

The Five Behaviors™ model explores commitment as clarity around decisions and complete buy-in from team members. Teams that achieve commitment use a common language to engage in healthy debate and support decisions even if everyone does not initially agree.

ACCOUNTABILITY

High-performing teams set high standards for themselves. Holding team members accountable for their responsibilities helps establish respect among peers and guides the team to live up to their expectations.

RESULTS

The goal of every team is results. By building a foundation of trust, engaging in productive conflict, achieving commitment, and holding team members accountable, teams never lose sight of their collective goals and can achieve their peak performance.