Team Dynamics is a reflection of how people within a group interact and engage with one another. Social psychologists have identified that when people work in a group, they often each taken on distinctive roles or behaviours within the group, and that team dynamics are then the effects of these roles or behaviours on other group members as well as the group in its entirety.

A group with positive team dynamics includes team members trusting one another and working together for a successful result. A group with poor team dynamics is disruptive, indecisive and can often lead to poor choices or ideas.am.

There are many ways in which team dynamics can be managed to ensure group success:

Step 1: Break Down the Barriers

Before getting to work, use team building exercises to help get everyone familiar with one another. Applying a few exercises helps to welcome and introduce everyone and prevents group members from turning against one another or excluding people from the group..

EXAMPLE: Team Building Exercises

A Truth and a Lie

Have each group member start by by stating their name, then one true statement and one false statement about themselves. It is then up to the rest of the group to determine which one is true and which is a lie. Continue around the group until everyone has had a turn.

Human Knot

Standing in a circle*, group members reach across the circle to someone standing opposite and take their hand. Each person should be holding hands with two other people. The group then works together to unravel the “human knot” by making a perfect circle without letting go of hands. This activity is a great way to introduce everyone, have them work together and test their communication skills. *You can start with 2 or 3 groups before attempting the activity with one large group.

Step 2: Set Clear, Specific Goals

We’ve heard it all before - setting goals is key to success. Goal setting is a process that starts with identifying what you want to achieve, and ends with a lot of hard work to actually do it. By setting goals for the group, you will give everyone something to strive for. When setting goals for your team, consider the following items:

• Establish and set a purpose for the team;
• Identify the results you want the team to achieve;
• Develop clear milestones that need to be achieved (by the group as well as each person) for each goal you set;
• Present the goals to the group and ensure everyone is in agreement;
• Identify the roles and responsibilities that relate to the goals set and allocate to group members;
• Set deadlines for each milestone and goal (according to when the final result is due);
• Review progress regularly, for each person and the group.

For more information on setting goals, see the Suggested Resources below.

Step 3: Define Each Person’s Role

Teams that have members unsure of their roles often lose focus and motivation. To ensure there is no confusion in understanding the roles of each team member, it is a good idea to create a team charter that lists each team member, what their role/s is, and the responsibilities for each role. It is a good idea to provide everyone with a copy or to keep the list visible so that the whole group knows who is responsible for what at all times.

Step 4: Open Communication

Open communication is central to keeping team dynamics positive. It is important that everyone is communicating clearly across the entire group, in all forms of communication; whether in writing, group meetings, one on one discussions etc. If things are changing or issues arise, it is important that the every member of the group is notified and everyone has the same information.

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