Teamwork Defined by Strengths

Teamwork defined by a strengths based approach provides a different perspective to how you define teamwork. In our article Teamwork Theories - The Star Team Model we introduced a model to develop teams using individual strengths combined together with effective teamwork in the pursuit of meaningful goals. Here we discuss the Strengths element of the model.

What are we to make of teams? In the 90's they came prominently to the fore often as a panacea for all situations, and too often covering up a rationalisation programme.

With that in mind there has often been a mixed reception to enhancing teamwork in the organisation.

Katzenbach and Smith in their influential book "The Wisdom of Teams" declared:

"Teams will be the primary building blocks of company performance in the organisation of the future."



However they also point out that teams are not necessarily the answer to everything. It is their belief that teams though should form a significant and growing part of high performance organisation.


Too often the power of effective team working has not been harnessed, and what often passes for teams are no more than a work group or a collection of people together.

There has also been a tendency to build teams by asking individuals to develop a mix of skills so that each member can cover for another. In team building sessions the mantra "there is no I in TEAM" has often been expressed. Whilst that is obviously true, you could also point out that there is an "M" and an "E" which spells "ME".



Yet this view suggesting that the individual is "lost" in the team, according to a strength-based approach negates the power of an individual bringing their unique strength and contribution to the team. It is the blend of different strengths which make a team really effective in its task. Teamwork defined by strengths happens when "I" delivers exceptional performance for "us" that teams start to develop.

What are strengths?

Strengths are things people are good at. They often seem to come naturally, and they are areas which an individual tends to more easily learn and improve. It is far easier and more rewarding to get better at something you are already good at, than to try and improve something that is a weakness. That is not to say that weaknesses should be ignored. Especially where they may impact on your strengths, or if they are limiting you potential in other areas. It is however unlikely that you are going to get really good at something you find difficult to do and aren't particularly good at. Better perhaps to find others in the team who have strengths to compensate for the weaknesses in another. For more on strengths and how to identify strengths see the articles work motivation and work life effectiveness.

What does teamwork defined by strengths mean?

The way teams are put together and how they are encouraged to develop matters.

People aren't good at doing everything. We get the best performance when people invest in getting better at what they are already good at - what we already know, but don't put in to practice.

In reality an awful lot of performance management and development/appraisals focus on weaknesses and gaps - which we try to correct with a "development need", rather than activities which expand and increase what people are already good at.

What sort of things do we need to do to promote strengths in teams?

Selecting team members so that the team consist of complementary strengths that together enable the team's results to be delivered. One of the powerful aspects of teamwork is the ability to combine other people's strengths where you have weaknesses.

Supporting people to perform using their strengths in ways that combine well with others in the team.

Spend more development time on people's strengths rather than on their weaknesses

Align and blend strengths to achieve results for the team

Acknowledge and recognize achievements where individuals use their strengths to deliver for the team.

Teamwork defined by strengths is the first stage of developing teams that perform and that help to create a happier workplace. This begins to happen when an individuals strengths are applied to do something that they find engaging. People are happier when their time is spent using their strengths productively as we explored in our article: what causes happiness.

If you do have the time to read more on this topic of teamwork defined by strengths, why not go to our teamwork articles. A good place to start might be to think through why is teamwork important , or you may want to think about how you define teamwork or reminding yourself of the benefits of teamwork.

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