Would you like to do a better job managing your teams? Are you an executive trying to learn new tips and techniques on getting the most from your teams?
If so, then keep reading because today I’m going to share 5 science-based facts on managing teams.
Tip #1: Keep your teams to between 5 and 9 employees.
You might believe that the more people you throw at a problem, the quicker you’ll find a solution. But research shows that adding too many team members decreases the likelihood of success. The optimal size for a team is between 5 and 9 employees.
Tip #2: Respectful conflict improves results
It may feel good to have good chemistry with your teammates, but diversity of opinion and approaches improves results. Just look at John Lennon and Paul McCartney – the fact that they had two different styles of music and blended them together is what made the Beatles the most successful band of all time. So, you actually want a little respectful tension in your team. As long as you keep any disagreements respectful, the results will be better in the long run.
Tip #3: Bonding with your team releases oxytocin
Oxytocin is one of the chemicals in the brain that is released during exercise and other strenuous activities. When you’re in a high-functioning team, oxytocin is released, which creates a feeling of peace and wellbeing with your team members. The result is something I call the leadership loop which is when a team’s success builds upon itself and leads to more success.
Tip #4: Your team shouldn’t have a leader, but it should have a manager
In office environments, when someone is designated a “team leader” it can sometimes create jealousy and competitiveness within the team. That’s not what you’re looking for. Instead, you should designate someone to be the team manager whose job it is to keep things moving through the forward and to keep the team organized. Remember, it’s not a team leader, it’s a team manager.
Tip #5: Mixed-age teams outperform youth-only teams
You might think that having a team of young whippersnappers is a great way to solve business problems, but the science doesn’t back that up. Mixed-age teams have more “creative abrasion” which results in more rounded, well-thought-out solutions to the problems at hand.
And here’s a final insight – studies show that men are insecure when they’re in the minority. The research shows that men feel dissatisfied and less committed to a project when assigned to a team consisting of more women than men. Women, however, are apparently unaffected by this ratio.
(C’mon men, get with the program and quit your pouting.)
About the Author: Jamie Turner is an internationally recognized author, university professor, and management consultant who speaks about leadership, persuasion, and marketing at events and conferences around the globe. Jamie’s YouTube channel was designated one of the “Top 10 Business YouTube Channels” in the nation by Wishpond.com.